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Euro 2000- Portugal desires to be on top |
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Portugal's Luis Figo and Fernando Couto warm up during training in Ermelo, the Netherlands, Monday June 26 2000. Portugal faces France at the European Soccer Championship semi-final in Brussels on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Dusan Vranic) |
June 28, 2000
BRUSSELS (AP) - It's the chance for Portugal's golden generation to shine. Humberto Coelho's men have thrilled fans at Euro 2000 with four straight wins but still haven't faced a team of true class in the run up to Wednesday's semifinal against France.
The world champion will give Portugal the ultimate test. France has been in scintillating form at Euro 2000, its defense as miserly as ever, Thierry Henry sparkling up front and, crucially, Zinedine Zidane often unstoppable in midfield.
For good reason, France is supremely confident about advancing to Sunday's final in Rotterdam. "We will do anything to avoid defeat and I only think an individual error would cause it," said Youri Djorkaeff, who scored winning goals against the Czech Republic and Spain. "Collectively, I don't think that anyone has the power to stop us." |
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Portugal was breathtaking in its 3-2 comeback victory against England. A 1-0 success over Romania secured a quarterfinal berth with a game to spare and a crushing 3-0 win against Germany, when Coelho fielded a reserve team, showed the depth of Portuguese talent.
A 2-0 win against Turkey booked Portugal's place in the last four.
"We always believed we could go this far. It's not a surprise for us, maybe it was for some of the teams that played us," said defender Dimas.
"Our objective is making the final. We have every respect for France, but we're going to give it our best," he said.
The Portuguese are looking to shed the tag of Europe's underachievers.
Its outstanding youth team of the early 1990s was dubbed the golden generation but only now are the players closing in on a major trophy.
The team's heartbeat is Luis Figo, whose talents have allowed strikers Nuno Gomes - with three goals at Euro 2000 - and Joao Pinto to prosper.
Portugal is also looking to exact revenge for a 3-2 semifinal defeat to France in 1984, one of the greatest matches in European Championship history.
France is wary.
"What marks Portugal is that they are very strong individually," said Patrick Vieira. "Everyone knows players like Rui Costa and Luis Figo and are in great form. They have superb technique."
But, as Vieira points out, there is a lot more to winning games than great skill.
"Perhaps we are a bit stronger physically," the Arsenal midfielder said. "If both teams are 100 percent it will be a great game and a close game. But their weak point might be defense."
Like Vieira, Marcel Desailly thinks Portugal is more of a threat to France than quarterfinal opponent Spain.
"The difference between Spain and Portugal is that the Portuguese have more talented individuals," the powerful Chelsea defender said.
"They also are more serene than the Spanish," he added. "Spain didn't seem calm. They came out with fear but Portugal will have no fear."
France, looking to become the first country to add a European Championship to a world crown, will give a late fitness test to Emmanuel Petit, who has missed two games with a right knee injury. Christophe Dugarry should be available despite fracturing his nose against Spain.
Portugal has no injury worries, but is likely to recall Abel Xavier in defense.
Expected lineups: Portugal - Vitor Baia; Jorge Costa, Abel Xavier, Fernando Couto, Dimas; Paulo Bento, Rui Costa, Figo, Sergio Conceicao; Joao Pinto, Nuno Gomes.
France - Fabien Barthez; Lilian Thuram, Bixente Lizarazu, Laurent Blanc, Marcel Desailly; Didier Deschamps, Patrick Vieira, Youri Djorkaeff, Christophe Dugarry, Zinedine Zidane; Thierry Henry.
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