Euro 2000 quarter final - Portugal v Turkey Preview

After some of the best international football of recent times over the past two weeks Euro 2000 now reaches decisive matches with Portugal facing Turkey in the first of today's two quarter finals.

With everything now at stake for these teams the free flowing attack-minded matches of the past two weeks could become a distant memory and the top teams start to show their defensive abilities with extra time, golden goals and penalty shoot outs possible for the first time.

The Amsterdam meeting of Portugal and Turkey will show an interesting contrast in styles.

For Turkey to succeed and reach the semi finals they need star striker Hakan Sukur to show the form he managed against Belgium. The Turks know they are playing against a defence that has not been truly tested in the group matches and Portugal will could prove unexpectedly vulnerable.

Turkey will use Okan as their play maker with Abdullah being restored to midfield with his greater defensive awareness. He is preferred to Sergen as coach Mustafa Denizli chooses a cautious side that will look to pay on the break.

A key player in this tactic is Hakan's striker partner Arif Erdem. Euro 2000 has yet to see the best of this attacker but he will need to cross accurately to find his striker partner. There is little doubt that Hakan will find space and good positions and he could score to set up a defensive battle as Turkey try to protect their lead.

There is little doubt that Turkey have the passing ability and the direct style at times to challenge Portugal's status as favourites to win this match up.

Turkey are fielding one of the best goalkeepers in Euro 2000 with Rustu Recber on outstanding form in his group matches where he saved his team on several occasions. Portugal are weak in this area with Vitor Baia still looking uncertain after a long injury lay off.

The physical battle between Hakan and Portuguese hard men Jorge Costa and Fernando Couto could determine the effectiveness of Turkish attacks and the temp of the overall game will undoubtedly be dictated by the sophisticated pass and move style developed by the Portuguese.

Coach Humberto Coelho has a team in god form at his command with great confidence.

Rui Costa is good enough to dominate any match at this high level where his ability to create and find space really finds its best expression.

All Portugal's best work comes through him and ahead of him in the team pattern is the exceptional Luis Figo.

Figo's domination of the right hand side will see Turkey midfielder Abdullah spending most of his time in defence leaving left sided player Suat as the best source of crosses for Hakan.

Figo is one of the best players in the world right now and his presence will see major problems for the Turkey defence.

Portugal need to show the finishing ability they found against England to get past Rustu Recber but the three goals scored Sergio Conceicao against Germany sees him included in the line up where he will help Figo on the right hand side of midfield.

Portugal made eight changes to face Germany but the more familiar line up is back for the Amsterdam game where Turkish fans could dominate. Their support will help the team but the technique of Portugal could see them make the last four at the Euro finals.

However, the Portuguese defence has not been properly tested yet and looked poor in the first game against a mediocre England team. With Baia also set to for aerial confrontations with Hakan Sukur Turkey could spring a surprise in normal time. If Portugal keep the match going into extra time they become the favourites again.

Half Time score - 0-0

Full Time score at end of 90 minutes - Turkey 1 Portugal 0

First scorer - Hakan Sukur

Number of corners - 16