Live from Euro 2004
The hunger and the heart
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| Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo (L) vies with Spain's midfielder Vicente, 20 June 2004 at Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, during their Euro 2004 group A football match, at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Lluis GENE |
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| England's midfielder and captain David Beckham (R) congratulates his teammate forward Wayne Rooney after his goal, 17 June 2004 at Coimbra's stadium, during their Euro 2004 group B football match at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Paul BARKER |
Neither Portugal nor England were entirely convincing in the first round but showed the essential hunger and heart to make the cut for the quarter-finals where they will meet in Lisbon tonight.
The atmosphere for this first knock-out tie promises to be electric as a sell out crowd of 65,000 looks set to bring the house down at the Stadium of Light with England fans expected to outnumber thie hosts.
The match also pitches two of the tournaments younger stars into action in the form of England's new hero Wayne Rooney with four goals so far and Portugal's sublime winger Cristiano Ronaldo, who will go up against his Manchester United teammate Gary Neville.
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| Portugal's forward Luís Figo (R) is tackled by Greece's midfielder Georgios Karagounis 12 June 2004 at Dragao stadium in Porto during their Euro 2004 group A football match at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Dimitar DILKOFF |
There will also be a battle between Real Madrid teammates Luis Figo and David Beckham, both captain's of their respective national sides.
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| England captain David Beckham takes a penalty, 13 June 2004 during their opening match against France at the European Nations football championships at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon. France and England are competing in Group B with Croatia and Switzerland. AFP PHOTO PAUL BARKER |
Both teams lost their opening tie. A nervy Portugal going down to dark horses Greece and England handing France their hard earned three points on a silver platter with an injury time collapse.
However, both sides have been a different proposition since, Portugal knocking out Spain and England bagging seven goals in two wins.
Silver opportunity
The suspicion is this tie will not go to the dreaded penalties but if it does it will have gone through an extra-time with the brand new silver goal rule, which gives a side until the end of the first period to equalise any goal scored, rather than the direct golden goal finish.
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| Portugal's forward Nuno Gomes (C) kicks the opening goal next to Spain's defender Juanito Gutierrez (L), 20 June 2004 at Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, during their Euro 2004 group A football match at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Javier SORIANO |
Portugal will be without suspended first choice striker Pauleta, but have a fine replacement in Benfica's experienced Nuno Gomes, who scored the winner when Portugal came from 2-0 down to defeat England 3-2 at Euro 2000. He was also Spain's executioner with a brilliant strike in Lisbon last week.
England's only doubt would be defender John Terry, who took a knock in the 4-2 win over Croatia, otherwise Sven-Goran Eriksson will field an unchanged side and hope his impressive midfield can provide the ammunition to Rooney and that he can add to his four goals so far.