Ricardo goes down again. That's another minute added to the match. Couto goes onto the pitch for Maniche. I don't know about this...
Many congrats to Portugal. I thought that was a fine performance with a goal of attacking football. Very much fun to watch and they are certainly deserved advancers.
This will certainly relieve some of the "golden generation's" pain of the last few years. Especially if they win the next match. BTW: Congrats writered21 on A.B. FC's fine season!
the miss's by Figo, with blast shot to the post, and Pauleta with only the goalkeeper to beat made it harder for our defenders
Frank, you forgot the other miskick by Pauleta from 5 yards away where Van der Sar pushed it around the post. IMHO, I couldn't believe Pauleta couldn't get a better deflection.
--Marvelous win. A great day for the Portuguese team and nation. --We were the better side and deserved to win. Even van Hooijdonk and van Nistelrooij said as much in their post-game comments. --Things aren't perfect, though: First, we've got to get Gomes in there. At least he has a clue of how to finish a chance. Pauleta, god almighty, how can you miss that one on one with the keeper? Second, this team is at its best when going forward. In the last 20min when they brought in Petit and Couto we played our worst football of the game by far. The "sensible" defensive subs are the kiss of death. --Scolari screwed up the first game but man has he made up for it. Psyched to see what he can do for WC06. --There's no way Greece is going to get the drop on us twice in one tournament, we're going to be ready for them if they win. That said, odds are that Czech is going to win and they're a handful. 4-0 coming off a dominating win against a strong Denmark team. If they're the opponent it will be a tough game. But if we can beat Russia, Spain, England, Holland and Czech all in a row there's no disputing that we're the best team in Europe.
We play very well this time like we did to England and Spain The only thing that freeze me was that free kick near the end by the dutch that have a strange name ehehehehe COM UMA FORÇA K NG PODE PARAR
PEACE Best wishes to the Dutch and their supporters in future competitions. No hard feelings over our discussions. San Francisco Cunha was trying to ya'll but everyone thought it was bravado. It was a nice match to watch, but the scoreline is very flattering to the Dutch. On any other day this would have been a 5-0 demolition. Frank wasn't kidding when he said this was going to be easier than people were thinking. Those of us who have followed the Portuguese religiously over the past 10-12 years know precisly how great our players are and given the right circumstances we knew we can beat anyone. It is very satisfying for us to finally reach a final and it is very comforting for us to see the very tangible confidence and self-belief that we always lacked. Those of us that follow Portuguese soccer can rest assured because this is no "one-off", we have so many great young talents waiting in the wings to carry forward the momentum that this fabulous group has established. Quaresma, Tiago, Postiga, Ronaldo, Makukula, Meireles, Ricardo Costa, Martins, Fernandes, Pereira, Carlitos, Sousa, Gama, Paim, Pedro, Danny, Oliveira, Joao Paulo, Ribeiro, Veirinha, etc, etc. This is only the beginning for a new world footballing power, PORTUGAL! Viva! PEACE
Frank, we did it, baby!!! Forca Portugal. You knew when Figo made those first couple of runs in the first half that there was no way he was going to let us lose that game. Miguel was absolutely immense against Robben. And what more can you say about Carvalho! Raise your glasses tonight, boys. As Armas.....As Armas... FORCA PORTUGAL!!!
Forca Portugal.We played a great match against Holland! Figo played wonderful,so did Ronaldo. It's so exciting that I couldn't sleep.
Congratulations are in order, you were the best team. Still it'd worry me that you're giving that many chances away. The Czechs won't be so sloppy with their finishing as the Dutch.
VIVA PORTUGAL, VIVA... EU ACREDITO.. Celebrate... all the Portuguese people are so proud to watch the winning game against netherlands. They played so great.. I knew that they would do this. Finals here we come... it doesn't matter who we play against.. matters that we're going to try our best and show the world that we can do it too.. we can beat any team.
Just one more note...finally a host country makes it through the semi-finals in this tournament. It is unbelievable the support they are getting. The atmosphere is second to none. Forca and So mais um.....
Congratulations, Portugal! I am not Portugese but I enjoy the way the Portugese play. They deserve their results. I like all your players except Deco (he hasn't played very well this tournament) and Ricardo (my 10 year old doesn't cry as much). OK, Pauleta's not good, either. But the rest of 'em are excellent.
We will take the congrats.. It's nice that you are saying that... although i don't think you are watching the same game as we all are, cause Deco and Ricardo both dominated throughout the entire tournament.. Pauleta has had serveral chances to score, and hasn't performed well.. I think that Nuno Gomes can do better as centre fwd that he can, but he still dominated to the team...
Conratulations to the players and fans of Portugal.....based on your play, you deserved to win.....good luck to you in the finals. I've enjoyed reading all your posts (yes, even yours Por2gza)....till we chat again!