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Live from Euro 2004


Figo drives Portugal home

Dutch defender Giovanni Van Bronckhorst fights for the ball with Portuguese midfielder Luis Figo (R) 30 June 2004 at the Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, during the Euro 2004 semi final match between Portugal and The Netherlands at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Franck FIFE
Dutch defender Giovanni Van Bronckhorst fights for the ball with Portuguese midfielder Luis Figo (R) 30 June 2004 at the Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, during the Euro 2004 semi final match between Portugal and The Netherlands at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Franck FIFE

Luis Figo, the man who said he had nothing to prove after being hauled off against England, promptly went out and proved his "galactic" status with a sterling showing to power Portugal into the final of Euro 2004 with a 2-1 win over the Netherlands on Wednesday.

They will now play the winner of Thursday's Czech Republic v Greece semi-final, in what will be an emotional night for all Portuguese at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.

"It is difficult to explain the emotion I feel right now," Figo said. "We have done a lot to get here. To be in the final and to be at home and with our supporters it can't get better than that."

Portugal's Brazilian head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari (R) celebrates with an unidentified person, 30 June 2004 at the Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, at the end of the Euro 2004 semi final football match between Portugal and The Netherlands at the European Nations championship in Portugal. Portugal won the match 2 to 1 and will play the final game of the competition. AFP PHOTO HRVOJE POLAN
Portugal's Brazilian head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari (R) celebrates with an unidentified person, 30 June 2004 at the Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, at the end of the Euro 2004 semi final football match between Portugal and The Netherlands at the European Nations championship in Portugal. Portugal won the match 2 to 1 and will play the final game of the competition. AFP PHOTO HRVOJE POLAN

The Netherlands looked less lively than in previous ties and with Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo operating on the same flank, mainly the left though with frequent excursions onto the right, the hosts had the upper hand from the off.

Ronaldo and Maniche got Portugal's goals, a Jorge Andrade own goal handing vain hope to Holland, but the captain was the star of the show.

Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring the opening goal, 30 June 2004 at the Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, during the Euro2004 semi-final football match between Portugal and The Netherlands at the European Nations championship in Portugal.
Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring the opening goal, 30 June 2004 at the Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, during the Euro2004 semi-final football match between Portugal and The Netherlands at the European Nations championship in Portugal.

The 31-year-old Real Madrid playmaker is the last remaining standard bearer of the club's regal crop of Euro 2004 stars, with Zinedine Zidane of France and England's David Beckham failing to set the competition alight and Raul of Spain making an early exit.

Dutch goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar (blue jersey) fails to catch the kick by Portuguese midfielder Maniche (not pictured), 30 June 2004 at the Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, during the Euro 2004 semi final football match between Portugal and The Netherlands at the European Nations championship in Portugal. Maniche scored the second goal after this kick. AFP PHOTO Francois GUILLOT
Dutch goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar (blue jersey) fails to catch the kick by Portuguese midfielder Maniche (not pictured), 30 June 2004 at the Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, during the Euro 2004 semi final football match between Portugal and The Netherlands at the European Nations championship in Portugal. Maniche scored the second goal after this kick. AFP PHOTO Francois GUILLOT

But Figo endured his own moment of agony when coach Luiz Felipe Scolari substituted him in the quarter-final win over England, whereupon he headed straight for the dressing room.

On Wednesday he was energy and adrenaline personifed, a barnstorming showing in the midfield engine room deserving to be capped with a goal.

Dutch goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar applauses his team's fans, 30 June 2004 at the Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, at the end of the Euro 2004 semi final football match between Portugal and The Netherlands at the European Nations championship in Portugal. Portugal won the match 2 to 1 and will play the final game of the competition. AFP PHOTO FRANCK FIFE
Dutch goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar applauses his team's fans, 30 June 2004 at the Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, at the end of the Euro 2004 semi final football match between Portugal and The Netherlands at the European Nations championship in Portugal. Portugal won the match 2 to 1 and will play the final game of the competition. AFP PHOTO FRANCK FIFE

Instead, only the width of Dutch keeper Edwin Van der Sar's right hand post denied him an even greater share of the headlines at the end of a surging run and ambitious curling shot four minutes before the interval.

At the end, as Portugal's players milked the acclaim of their fans, Figo calmly returned the applause - which echoed back to him in waves as he was awarded the man of the match accolade.

Fully 13 years on from his debut away draw with Luxembourg, Figo responded to his country's call and when Scolari called on his captain marvel to deliver in the white-hot atmosphere of the Alvalade Stadium the veteran was not found wanting.