Portugal have already made history. Now they are looking for glory.
A 2-1 win on Wednesday over The Netherlands put the Euro 2004 host nation into their first major final, bringing the Portuguese closer than ever to the silverware they have craved for so long.
For the fourth time in two weeks, the local fans were out on streets of cities, towns and villages in a frenzy of celebration over another hard-fought triumph.
Disposing of the Dutch and previous wins over traditional rivals Spain and a daunting England team have swept away the gloom that had gathered after the opening-day loss to Greece.
At Euro 2004 Portugal are ecstatically shedding their reputation as worthy also-rans.
There was almost something inevitable about Portugal’s overpowering of The Netherlands as the national team ride a wave of national euphoria.
After the Portuguese team bus left the training camp south of the capital and headed for Sporting Lisbon’s Alvalade Stadium, it was saluted by dozens of gathered fishing boats as it crossed the Tagus River and then escorted by hundreds of motorbikes flying the national flag.
”I want to say thank you for all the warm friendship the people have given us,” coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said after the game.
”I’ve seen things in Portugal which I never imagined could happen.”
Teenage striker Cristiano Ronaldo said he’d never seen anything like it in his life.
”This support has been really important, both inside and outside the stadiums,” he said.
Portugal have come a long way from the dour predictions of disaster just weeks ago.
Doomsayers forecast that Portugal, after a discouraging 7-5-3 record in 18 months of friendly games, would be humiliated on the pitch.
The cynics forecast Portugal would be ridiculed internationally because they would be unable to cope with a half-million visitors lured by the tournament.
They were wrong.
Portugal have surprised and impressed with their stylish, entertaining play and organised a championship Uefa called ”the best ever”.
For the crop of star players such as Real Madrid’s Luis Figo and AC Milan’s Rui Costa who grew out of the title-winning 1991 world youth team this European Championship could well be their last stab at a title.
The bare trophy cabinet is especially painful because Portugal have so much potential.
Dubbed ”The Brazilians of Europe”, the Portuguese stars are widely acclaimed for their flair but the team has been less than the sum of its parts.
Scolari, who won the 2002 World Cup for his country Brazil, has finally instilled a ruthless must-win instinct among his players.
He brought in a psychologist to make the players more focused and has toned down the frills. After the dread, the joy: all talk now is about lifting the trophy on Sunday.
Portugal will meet the winner of Thursday’s other semifinal between Greece and the Czech Republic.
The omens could work in Portugal’s favour. In 1964 host nation Spain won the championship and in 1984 France won the title on home turf.
Another 20 years on, it could be Portugal’s turn to please home supporters. – Sapa-AP