PORTUGAL LATEST NEWS

[Frank Cunha]

we want France, on the next round

[Frank Cunha]

Euro-We're really proud, says Portugal's Figo



LISBON, June 20 (Reuters) - Portugal winger Luis Figo said the team were "really proud" after reaching the Euro 2004 quarter-finals with a 1-0 win over neighbours Spain on Sunday.

"We have to be really proud. In general, I think we did a great job and we're glad to be in the quarter-finals.

"When you play at home the pressure is really high and all the players were worried about that pressure.

"The first game against Greece wasn't so good for us but we are improving every game and now let's see what we can do in the quarter-finals."

Portugal's Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari added: "Right now, we're going on to the next stage. We can't think any further than that."

[Carlo Ramos]

YYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!

What a brilliant result!!!!!!

Forca Portugal!!!!!!!

After the Greece game I was very worried about this tournament but it all seems to be OK now!!!!!!!

I was so nervous during that second half with all the chances, and how did Costinha miss that header???!!!

It doesn't matter because we won and a great goal by Nuno Gomes, and I was angry when he came on for Pauleta, but not now!!!!

[verde-rubro]

::leedswac Heroes of the sea, noble race,
Valiant and immortal nation,
Now is the hour to raise up on high once more
Portugal's splendour.
From out of the mists of memory,
Oh Homeland, we hear the voices
Of your great forefathers
That shall lead you on to victory!

To arms, to arms
On land and sea!
To arms, to arms
To fight for our Homeland!
To march against the enemy guns!

Unfurl the unconquerable flag
In the bright light of your sky!
Cry out all Europe and the whole world
That Portugal has not perished.
Your happy land is kissed
By the Ocean that murmurs with love.
And your conquering arm
Has given new worlds to the world!

To arms, to arms
On land and sea!
To arms, to arms
To fight for our Homeland!
To march against the enemy guns!

Salute the Sun that rises
On a smiling future:
Let the echo of an insult be
The signal for our revival.
The rays of that powerful dawn
Are like a mother's kisses
That protect us and support us
Against the insults of fate.

To arms, to arms
On land and sea!
To arms, to arms
To fight for our Homeland!
To march against the enemy guns!
::leedswac ::leedswac ::leedswac

[Frank Cunha]

just a classic game

[Frank Cunha]

Euro-England, Croatia keep Lisbon partying



(recasts with pre-match colour)

By Karen Iley

LISBON, June 21 (Reuters) - Red and white replaced red and green as England and Croatia followers flocked to central Lisbon on Monday determined to continue the party spirit that followed Portugal's advance to the Euro 2004 quarter-finals.

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Just hours before the match, fans clad in the distinctive checkerboard shirts of Croatia listened with puzzled expressions to England supporters singing songs harking back to World War Two as they scaled the statue in the capital's Rossio Square.

"The English fans are really fantastic. They always impress us with their passion," said Kristijan Zulle, the owner of a spa centre in Rijeka, brushing away one of hundreds of Saint George flags once again smothering the plaza.

"We were a little afraid before (the tournament) but we've been eating and drinking with guys from England and there has been no trouble," he added.

Young and old mingled together, with 11-month old Tommy Ladlow from Essex, shaded in his pushchair but resplendent in his "England footy star" bib sleeping through the din.

Attracting lots of attention in her England shirt with Great Grandma emblazoned across the back, 73-year-old Marion Spong was eagerly awaiting her first ever football match.

"It's wonderful. I've had my photograph taken with England and Croatia fans -- that was so sweet," said Spong, whose great-grandson Max is less than a month old. "I'm going to take lots of pictures and frame this shirt for Max when he's older."

England face Croatia in their final Group B match needing at least a draw to advance to the last eight, where they could meet the hosts following Portugal's historic 1-0 win over neighbours Spain on Sunday. Nothing less than a win will do for Croatia.

For fans of both teams, the prospect of meeting the hosts in the quarters was adding to the excitement.

"Portugal versus England would be huge, unbelievable," said Darren Hill, an IT manager from Sheffield. "You saw what it was like here last night -- it will be just fantastic."

BLEARY EYED

The Portuguese, still bleary eyed after a night of noisy celebrations, were eagerly looking forward to the quarter-finals.

Alberto Teixeira, a restaurant owner, predicted England would beat Croatia and meet Portugal on Thursday.

"For me, (Portugal and England) are the two best teams in the European championships, even though England have not really shown its team yet," he said.

Following the peaceful festivities last night, when elated revellers filled Lisbon streets, honking horns and waving the national flag, both sets of fans were keen to take a leaf out of Portugal's book.

"It's been great so far," said Stephan Haramincic, a driver from Zagreb, posing for photographs with three England fans.

"The England fans have been good so far but we will see after the match their reaction," he said, predicting a 3-2 win for Croatia.

Robert Thompson, a prison officer from Sunderland, praised the Portuguese people for giving English fans a "fantastic welcome," after a Lisbon resident provided him and his pals a personal escort from the city centre to the stadium.

"He drove us half way round town. You couldn't get a nicer gesture," he said.

Around 12,000 Croatia fans and in excess of 40,000 England supporters are expected to head to the match at Lisbon's Luz stadium which kicks off at 1845 GMT. In the other Group B decider, Switzerland play France in Coimbra.

[Frank Cunha]

Robert Thompson, a prison officer from Sunderland, praised the Portuguese people for giving English fans a "fantastic welcome," after a Lisbon resident provided him and his pals a personal escort from the city centre to the stadium.

"He drove us half way round town. You couldn't get a nicer gesture," he said.

Around 12,000 Croatia fans and in excess of 40,000 England supporters are expected to head to the match at Lisbon's Luz stadium which kicks off at 1845 GMT. In the other Group B decider, Switzerland play France in Coimbra.

[Frank Cunha]

www.portuguesesoccer.com

Party explodes in Portugal as hosts reach last eight



(adds quotes, colour, celebrations outside Lisbon)

By Karen Iley

LISBON, June 20 (Reuters) - Portugal partied like crazy on Sunday as delirious fans celebrated their soccer team's 1-0 victory over neighbours Spain and reaching the Euro 2004 quarter-finals.




"It's absolutely terrific. I can hardly speak," said 19-year-old student Eduardo Seixas after watching the game on a gigantic screen on the outskirts of Lisbon.

A second-half goal by substitute Nuno Gomes sent the crowd at the stadium and millions across the country into raptures, 23 years to the day since Portugal last beat their neighbours. Anything other than a home win would have seen Spain qualify.

In the capital, chanting crowds headed to Lisbon city centre where celebrations were in full swing.

Liberty Avenue, Lisbon's tree-lined major thoroughfare, was jammed with honking cars and streaming national colours.

"It's going to be crazy tonight. People will lose their heads. I don't think there will be many people at work tomorrow," said Joao Fragoso, a technician.

Local media reported street parties across the country, with Porto's central square flooded with dancing people and thousands of fans going into ecstasy in Coimbra.

"Who won this game? Portugal. Not the 11 players but everyone. This was a win for the entire country," said psychologist Mauro Corage.

Hundreds of people took to the streets in Cartaxo, a famous wine-growing town around 80 kilometres northeast of Lisbon, while fireworks arched over revellers in the town of Portalegre near the Spanish border.

In the port of Aveiro, elated fans chanted "We want more! We want more!" and islanders on the Azores and Madeira in the Atlantic were also joining the party.

ALL-NIGHT FESTIVAL

Carlos Martins, 52, an orthopedic technician, had to shout to be heard over his three screaming teenage children waving flags from the windows of his van.

"I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but I never gave up believing in our players," he said in Lisbon.

Luiz Felipe Scolari, Portugal's Brazilian coach, was the hero of the hour especially for Iolanda Braga, a Brazilian student, brandishing both the Brazilian and Portuguese flags from her car.

"The win is for the two countries, I'm very happy."

The Portuguese, suffering from a contracting economy and a shortage of jobs, will forget their woes for tonight at least.

"This is like a dream. We needed this. When you organise something like Euro 2004, and when your team is fantastic, you can forget everything," Fragoso said.

[Frank Cunha]

I don't want England or Croatian, I just want France in the quarter finals

[robaldo]

england and croatia have played better than france so i dont blame you for wanting france

you can beat them, Portugal just need to improve a little bit and in the quarters i think they will

good luck to portugal

[Frank Cunha]

its not the reason

we want France we got rob in 2 semi-finals of the Euro, in France in 1984, we lost 3-2 when we were winning 2-1 with 5 minutes to go

last Euro 00, a stupid call against Portugal, we want revenge, let England or Croatians play the Greeks

[Frank Cunha]

nothing going to happen, he was smart and use the Porto players

[Jager]

Congratulations on the result.

[robaldo]

unlucky, looks like you will be stuck playing england

[tyrus]

Thats fine by me last time england and portugal locked horns we won. i didn't want france. there portuguese kryptonite