Zenica (Bosnia-Herzegovina), Nov 10: Despite being the big favorite on paper, Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal isn't expecting an easy time against Bosnia-Herzegovina in their European Championship playoff.
The two countries meet in the first leg Friday in Bosnia, and the Portuguese are wary of an opponent they narrowly beat in playoffs for the 2010 World Cup.
Bosnia has grown in stature since those meetings and chased powerhouse France to the wire in Euro 2012 qualifying, missing out on automatic qualification by one point in Group D when it drew 1-1 in Paris.
"They've improved a lot, they're stronger now," Portugal striker Helder Postiga said. "It'll be a hard fight."
Bosnia, which is aiming to qualify for its first major international tournament, is unbeaten in its last six games and conceded only one goal during that run.
In 2009, Portugal edged Bosnia 1-0 in each game but had a tough time in the return leg in Zenica's small stadium. This time return leg is in Lisbon, next Tuesday, which Portugal coach Paulo Bento reckons gives his team a slight advantage.
The Portuguese, though, are worried about the poor state of the Zenica pitch which could handicap the ball skills of Ronaldo and Nani, who should earn his 50th cap.
"Portugal's never played on a pitch as bad as this," Portuguese Football Federation sports director Carlos Godinho said Thursday.
Portugal fought back from a miserable start to its qualifying campaign when it took just one point from its first two games. Bento took over from Carlos Queiroz soon after that and Portugal racked up five wins in a row until its defeat in Denmark last month cost it the group's top spot and automatic qualification.
Defenders Pepe and Fabio Coentrao and forward Hugo Almeida missed the match in Copenhagen through injury but are back to face Bosnia.
Portugal has struggled with a leaky defense, conceding three goals against Iceland and four against Cyprus.
The Portuguese camp has also been unsettled by spats between players and the coach.
Center back Ricardo Carvalho, angry he was going to be a substitute, walked out of the squad for the Denmark game and retired from international football. This week, right back Jose Bosingwa said he would never play under Bento again after being left off the squad.
Yellow cards are another worry for Bento. Ronaldo is one of seven Portuguese players at risk of missing the return leg if they are cautioned in Zenica.
Bosnia coach Safet Susic has a similar problem as he figures out how to strengthen his back line. Defenders Boris Pandza and Sasa Papac are both suspended for the first leg while Mensur Mujdza, another defender, will miss both encounters with a broken foot.
Susic says he wants to take a goal advantage to the Portuguese capital.
"I do not agree that 0-0 is good result. It is not bad, but how can we aim for a victory in Lisbon if we cannot win at home?" he said.
