Lisbon awoke on Thursday after a night when the population had no sleep. Nights like that do not lend themselves to slumber, they just go on and on, the volume constant. Long after the final whistle there were still people dancing in the seats at the Jose Alvalade stadium.
People wanted to stay and submerge themselves in the atmosphere. The Portugal players felt the same. When the whistle blew and they realised they had made history as the first Portugal team to reach the final of a major tournament, they charged at each other in celebration. They did not want to leave. In their midst the captain Luis Figo fell to his knees.
Later he strolled into a press conference and mentioned ‘sufferingâ€. Portugal loved the night but once Jorge Andrade had scooped a goal into his own net, Portugal feared Holland were on their way back and that the curse of the home nation in the semifinal would strike again.
From Germany in 1988 to Sweden in 1992, England at Euro 96 and Holland themselves in 2000, the hosts reached the last four of the European Championship but got no further.
Andrade’s unfortunate intervention meant half an hour of Portuguese anxiety. There was concern every time the Dutch pressed forward but in the 90th minute, as Michael Reiziger broke down the right, Figo bolted across to make one of those tackles that not only snuffs out danger but lifts everyone around. The leader was back.
In this case Figo lifted a nation and when he dropped to the ground a few seconds later, he said he was ‘deadâ€. But, of course, he is not. A 110th cap awaits at the Stadium of Light on Sunday. It will be Figo’s last.
He was applauded as he entered the press room in green shorts and T-shirt. He even forgot to pick up his man-of-the-match award. There were other things on his mind and he took Portugal back 13 years to June 30 1991. That was the day they won the Under-21 world championship and Figo said every day since has been about helping Portugal emulate that achievement at senior level.
‘For my country, the people, the players, for everyone working together since then, this day is really emotional,†he said.
‘It’s difficult to describe. It is a fantastic night for Portugal. We have done something historical, something no other Portugal team has done.â€
The coincidence in dates with 1991 is remarkable, so too the venue. When Figo and the young Rui Costa were first informing Europe of their ability, they climaxed the news at the Stadium of Light.
On Sunday Portugal will meet Greece in the same stadium, albeit the new, 2004 version.
It remains a magical name. What a way for Figo to go and what a contrast with the same day a week ago. Then Figo was taken off with 15 minutes left and England were holding on to their 1-0 lead.
Portugal’s Brazilian manager, Luiz Felipe Scolari, described the situation as ‘desperate†after that game and Figo, as he stormed down the tunnel without glancing at his coach, looked worse than desperate. He looked finished.
But the rest of Portugal raised Figo then, non-stars like Helder Postiga and the goalkeeper Ricardo, and there was a drive and desire in Figo’s first movements on Wednesday night that told he was intent on repayment and reclaiming his reputation.
Twice Figo delivered centres that most centre-forwards lick their lips over. But, if there is a flaw in this Portugal team, and there is more than one, it is that they still do not possess a striker who scores freely.
Pauleta was the culprit in the semifinal. He failed to get on the end of either Figo cross. Imagine what this Portugal team might be with a Ruud van Nistelrooy or a Michael Owen.
But in Figo, Maniche, Deco and Ronaldo they have real creators. They now have their first final in their capital city, in their most
famous stadium. And on Wednesday night Portugal got its captain back to take them there.
Referee given police protection
Urs Meier, the Swiss referee who disallowed the goal that would have sent England into the semifinals of Euro 2004, has been given police protection and advised to go into hiding after receiving more than 16 000 e-mails — some containing death threats — from outraged England fans.
Meier, who denied Sol Campbell a 90th-minute winner in England’s hard-fought quarterfinal against Portugal, insisted his decision was ‘100% correct”. He said he was shocked by the English reaction, particularly that of The Sun, which printed his e-mail address.
‘I had a wonderful Euro 2004 with three fantastic games,” Meier told Swiss national radio. ‘But on the other hand the problem with the English newspapers, especially with The Sun, is a big shock for me here in Switzerland.†—