Live from Euro 2004
Portugal expects, Czechs favoured as Cup appears
Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, bidding to become the only man in the history of the game to coach teams to World Cup and European Championship glory, warned his side to beware counterpart Dick Advocaat's dastardly Dutch in their Euro semi-final on Wednesday.
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| Portugal head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari celebrates with Brazil and Portuguese flag after Portugal beat England, 24 June 2004 during their European Nations Championship quarter-final football match between Portugal and England at the Estadio Da Luz in Lisbon. |
With the level of expectation among the home fans having reached boiling point both Scolari and skipper Luis Figo called for calm, while the former said his charges had to be aware the Dutch have a few tricks up their sleeves.
"The statistics show we are similar teams," said Scolari who is trying to deliver Portugal's first silverware at senior level.
Scolari acknowledged striker Ruud van Nistelrooy as the Netherland's chief threat following his four goals in four games.
"Van Nistelrooy is a very good striker and laps up chances which fall to him. But sometimes he starts from offside positions at freekicks," Scolari opined.
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| Dutch forward Ruud Van Nistelrooy celebrates, 26 June 2004 at the Algarve stadium in Faro, at the end of the Euro 2004 quarter final match between Sweden and The Netherlands at the European Nations championships in Portugal. The Netherlands won by 5 penalties to 4 during the penalty time. AFP PHOTO DIMITAR DILKOFF |
The Portuguese have a good recent record against the Dutch, European champions in 1988, having knocked them out of the 2002 World Cup in the qualifiers.
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| Members of the Greek team celebrate after beating France 1-0, 25 June 2004 at Estadio Jose De Alvalade in Lisbon in their European Nations championship quarter-final football match between France and Greece. AFP PHOTO ARIS MESSINIS |
The other semi-final pits the rampaging Czech Republic against surprise package Greece as Otto Rehhagel again attempts to overcome massive odds on Thursday.
Vladimir Smicer has vowed that the Czech Republic will not fall into the same trap as France by under-estimating their confident opponents.
The Czechs are installed as the favourites to succeed France as champions and they are widely expected to be too strong for Greece in Oporto.
"Greece are the surprise team of the tournament," said the Liverpool player.
"They had not even won a game at a Euro before and now they are in the semis. So we must be very careful.
"They work very hard but they also play very good football. We have to be aware of their counter attacks - it is on the break they are most dangerous.
"Maybe we are the favourites. But it doesn't change anything. We are in the semi-finals and we will have to play really well to get to the final.
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| Czech Republic's midfielder Vladimir Smicer jubilates after his goal, 19 June 2004 at Aveiro's stadium, during their Euro 2004 group D football match against Netherlands at the European Nations championship in Portugal. Czech Republic won 3-2. AFP PHOTO Franck FIFE |
The Czechs' chances of doing that received a boost when centreback Rene Bolf resumed training after recovering from a thigh injury.
Three of their players were booked against the Danes and will miss the final if they pick up another yellow card, including playmaker Pavel Nedved.
The other two walking the disciplinary tightrope are left-back Marek Jankulovski and centre-back Tomas Ujfalusi.