Euro 2000 semi finals - Portugal: player by player

With the world waiting to see the next great show from Luis Figo at Euro 2000 here is a player analysis of the Portugal squad ahead of their semi final clash with France in Brussels tomorrow night.

GOALKEEPERS

VITOR BAIA

The move to FC Barcelona went wrong after Baia criticised former coach Louis Van Gaal. He needed first team games to keep his place in the Portugal side but was dumped in the reserves. One of the finest goalkeepers in the European game and a player of genuine talent and quality, Portugal need Baia fit and sharp to stand any chance of getting to the later stages. Over 50 caps is a testament to his technique and ability and he is a thrilling goalkeeper to watch who can make matchless saves. His career was rescued at club level by FC Porto but one of the world class players produced by Portugal in the past decade. A knee injury has seen him play only two games in the last six months and he is very out of practice. This has been clear several times at Euro 2000 with weak handling and misjudgement of crosses.

His mistakes have not proved costly so far to the Portuguese but France will expose any weakness in Baia's form.

PEDRO ESPINHA

Ageing goalkeeper heading into his 36th year and third choice Quim may actually be more likely to play a match for Coelho if Baia is out of contention. He has played less than five times for the national team and has played for six Portuguese clubs with varying success in a long career.

QUIM

The third choice goalkeeper who is unlikely to play unless there are injuries in the senior goalkeeping positions. Coach Coelho could ill afford to ignore talent like Vitor Baia's if Espinha and Quim are the only other contenders to play for the national team. Quim is raw and untested at the highest level.

DEFENDERS

JORGE COSTA

Hard hitting centre back whose often shaven head hints at a basic playing style aimed at damaging strikers. FC Porto's hired gun around the penalty area he could make the tournament sparkle with some memorable spills. He has developed into an outspoken leader on the pitch for Portugal and has enjoyed a great tournament so far. His reputation for violence has not seen him get into disciplinary trouble so far.

ABEL XAVIER

A good player in his first season with Everton, Xavier has shown application and discipline to form part of a modest Premiership outfit whose strengths are defence. Good temperament has seen him keep discipline in the tough English game and he can call on yers of experience all over Europe. He has turned out for Bari, PSV Eindhoven and Oviedo in Spain as a defender of modest achievements whose game has matured well. He is a good header of the ball and can win tackles but is not a regular in Coelho's first choice eleven. He was born in Mozambique but has been suffering with an injury since an impressive first game against England. He now sports a great 'King Neptune' dyed blonde hair and beard combination but may not appear again at Euro 2000.

JOSE VIDIGAL

One of the trio of Sporting Lisbon defenders who coach Coelho has turned to more or less at the last minute. A strong runner and tackler but untested in the national team and especially not in tournament football which demands other qualities to league success.

BETO SEVERO

Along with Rui Jorge and Vidigal Beto is one of the main components of the champions' defensive line up. A good passer and tackler who works well as part of a unit and can be used as a man marker. The most capped player for Portugal of the Sporting defence and he is now establish himself with the national team with some tenacious defensive tackling.

RUI JORGE

Part of the Sporting Lisbon success story this season and a good defender whose league consistency has pushed him into contention for Coelho. Unlikely to start many matches at Euro 2000 but can provide cover across the back line. The fact that Coelho has chosen the entire Sporting defence alongside Rui Jorge means he can introduce them as a unit and they should still be able to work together.

SECRETARIO

Plays with tremendous application and effort and his speed can see him occupy a wide right position in defence. He attacks and crosses well as a wing-back in a five man defence and is strong enough in the tackle to form part of a conventional back four if necessary. His career with Real Madrid began with a title under Fabio Capello but his best performances recently have been for the national side. A well balanced runner with two good feet and an urge to get the ball forward.

FERNANDO COUTO

His reputation has carried him to Parma and Barcelona and he is now part of the multi-zillion lire Lazio side but it looks as if his time has run out. A limited defender with very big hair, Couto has survived numerous positional gaffes to earn a lucrative living at some very rich clubs. He is a threat in the air at set pieces and likes to shoot - if he scores he does a somersault in the air - but is a lazy defender who is prone to mistakes and poor concentration. He feigned injury to get Alpay red carded in the quarter final and his suspect positioning is a definite weakness in the Portugal defence.

DIMAS

Fit and aggressive left sided defender who is good at marking and closing down the opposition. He also has the stamina to work the ball forwards well and is a strong tackler. Weak in the air but for Portugal that is the norm. Not a threat to the opposition goal but good at covering for others as Portugal try and pass their way through opponents - usually through the middle. Came into the side for Euro 96 and has not been seriously threatened since so consistent have been his performances.

MIDFIELDERS

PAOLO SOUSA

Former Italian player of the year when with Juventus he won the Serie A title in Turin and the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund. Now trying to give Internazionale the same success, few players in the modern game have his achievements or pedigree. Very rarely scores and was not considered a 'fantasista' in Italy like his team mate Rui Costa, Sousa's real gifts are in passing and the ability to get through an enormous amount of the midfield hard work that is demanded in the game as played today. He has fine control and reads the game as well as any midfielder of the past decade. Regarded as a very slow runner while with Juve but his fitness has held up well over the years although Parma have yet to see his best form.

Indeed the Italian club are set to dump Sousa in a deal with Panathinaikos that will see young Greek star Liberopolous join the Italian team. Sousa has been struggling for fitness and has played only once at Euro 2000 so far.

LUIS FIGO

The strongest influence on Portuguese play and a survivor of the Dutch revolution at FC Barcelona in recent years. Regarded by many as the best midfielder in Europe, Figo runs hard and works all the time to gain any advantage he can but allies this spirit to excellent skill and technique. He dictates the play in midfield but Portugal must wish that he asserted his talent and authority further up the pitch more often. At his best he can dominate matches and still looks great when compared to world number one Rivaldo. Portuguese player of the year seven times in a row, look for his runs on the right hand side of midfield and accurate shooting. Despite heavy recent interest from SS Lazio, Figo has said he wants to stay at Barca.

Figo and Zidane are the two best players on show at Euro 2000 and their semi final may see one acknowldged as the best in the world this year.

CAPUCHO

In a Portugal squad packed with neat haircuts for Euro 2000, Capucho of Porto's hair is the tidiest in a Ricky Martin sort of way. His play is compact and versatile and he works well alongside Conceicao. Both can be very heavy tacklers and are in the team to win the ball and wreck attacks made by the opposition.

SERGIO CONCEICAO

An SS Lazio squad player who drifts in and out of the Rome side's first team. Usually found on the right side of midfield, Conceicao is a good and stiff tackler who can get into disciplinary problems. He was a star for FC Porto in two seasons there and has played a part in Lazio's championship season but many observers expect his talents to control the play more and make more of an impression but he is a good crosser. Three goals against a weak Germany team saw him threaten at the top of the goal charts but he is really a provider who could join Parma AC next month.

PAOLO BENTO

Second string midfielder used by coach Coelho sparingly and mainly for his tackling ability. Not a great season for Oviedo as his team struggled and could miss out on any matches at Euro 2000 with the likes of Conceicao ahead of him. Bentoo has been playing because of fitness doubts over Sousa but playing very well.

FRANCISCO COSTA

Influential in the AS Monaco midfield, 'Costinha' has won the French league title this season and could be ready to force his way into Euro 2000 contention. Good passing ability and a few tricks add the gloss to a mobile midfield package.

Constinha has agreed a to join Real Madrid next year at the end of his Monaco contract and scored the late header that sealed a place in the next stage at Euro 2000.

RUI COSTA

The idea of Rui Costa is sometimes better than the execution. A midfielder with more of the subtle arts than any of his European contemporaries, he can drift out of games completely and regularly frustrates the Fiorentina support. They are doing well in the Italian championship and when Rui Costa is on form he is an unrivalled creator of chances for those around and a player with obvious talent to burn. For the national side he lacks a reliable finisher to round off the moves he starts. The free kick taker on principle for the Portugal side and he has magical control when running with the ball. Prone to hold on to the ball too long though. The inheritor of the Baggio and Antongnoni tradition with Fiorentina. A very exciting player because his play often suggests that he can get even better but he needs to prove that this season. He wants to quit Fiorentina in the summer and has offers from Real Madrid and AC Milan. Rui Costa has shown the mature midfield technique that can dominate matches at the highest level and is one of the stars of this exceptional tournament.

STRIKERS

JOAO PINTO

Joao Pinto is by no means a certain finisher in the international arena. Clever on the ball and a neat runner, his final shot or pas can sometimes lack conviction and he seems to want to pas the ball into the net and can encourage that infamous Portuguese vice of overplaying the ball. His real strength to the national side is in supporting the play and he can bring other players into the action with his excellent passing. He will leave Lisbon's Benfica in the summer after eight years with the club with a deal to join Fiorentina close to being completed.

SA PINTO

Hard working Portuguese funny man who beat up national team coach Rui Aguas in 1997 when he was dropped from the Portugal team. Such hilarity aside he has a poor return in terms of goals from nearly 40 appearances - before and after a lengthy ban for the Aguas bout - but he is still likely to be the central attacker for Coelho. Watch him run a marathon at Euro 2000 in a complicated passing movement that ends up with Portugal winning a throw in deep in their own half.

PAULETA

Nimble forward who has finally fulfilled the promise of his early years by helping Deportivo La Coruna to the Spanish league title. A good finisher who is more direct than his rivals for a place in the Portuguese team. Really competing with the theatrical Joao Pinto to be part of the attack and may not get the chance his excellent form in Spain this season deserves.

NUNO GOMES

In 18 full matches in the 1998-99 season Gomes scored 24 goals for Benfica but never had a good relationship with manager Graeme Souness who believed he drifted from games and was a poor team player. Arguably the top Portuguese-born striker in their league - he trails Brazilian star Jardel in the scoring charts - Gomes is not a certain starter for the national team There is constant interest in Gomes from Spanish and Italian clubs but he may not play enough games in the Euro finals to secure a big money move. Quick but not a confident finisher and can be roughed up and marked out of a game.

Gomes has become the principle penalty area target for the brilliance of Luis Figo's approach play and has completed three comfortable finishes by being in the right place at the right time. This will be much harder against the excellent French defence so Gomes' positioning could see Figo forced to try for goal hmself more often in the semi final.