Another chance for Portugal to match reputation with results

Amsterdam, June 23: Germany and England were both knocked out as Portugal gained a 100 percent record in Group A also comprising Romania.T...

Amsterdam, June 23: Germany and England were both knocked out as Portugal gained a 100 percent record in Group A also comprising Romania.

Turkey left it till their very last Group b game to beat Belgium 2-0 and spark wild celebrations back home and from Turkish communities the length and breadth of Belgium and Holland.

Portugal, known as the Brazilians of Europe because of the emphasis on technique reminiscent of their former colony, have a chance to match reputation with results and thereby recoup the status of a whole generation of players who promised so much.

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Portugal have hitherto never had the soaring success like Brazil, who have won a record four World Cup titles and competed in every finals since the tournament’s conception.

Portugal’s under-20 World title wins in both 1989 and 1991, however, gave the impression a whole new batch of players would come through to the senior side and might just win at least one major trophy.

Players such as keeper Vitor Baia, defenders Fernando Couto and Secretario, midfielders Paulo Sousa, Rui Costa, Luis Figo and striker Joao Pinto will all be nearing or past 30 by the time the 2002 World Cup comes round and surely past their best.

A 3-2 fightback win over England, a 1-0 victory over Romania and then a rousing 3-0 thrashing of Germany, including a hat-trick from stand-in Sergio Conceicao, meant they jointly have the best attack and defence of the competition with Holland of seven goals scored and two conceded.

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Luckily for coach Humberto Coelho, who made nine changes from the Romania game when they met Germany, only FC Porto right back Secretario is ruled out of the match.

Secretario, who has an injury to his right arm, will be replaced by Everton’s Mozambique-born Abel Xavier.

In attacking midfield, Coelho has a multitude of options with superb stars like Luis Figo, Rui Costa plus Conceicao at his disposal.

Bad news for Turkey is that striker Hakan Sukur picked up an injury in training on Thursday, the team’s general manager Can Cobanoglu said.

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“Hakan Sukur is slightly injured,” said Cobanoglu. “We hope he can play. But we do not know yet.”

Sukur, who is leaving Galatasaray to join Inter Milan, scored both goals in the 2-0 victory over Belgium that helped Turkey reach the second phase of a major tournament for the first time.

Umit Davala is still carrying an injury while Tugay Kerimoglu is unavailable for selection after being thrown out of the team for a petulant reaction when he was substituted against Belgium.

It’s been a while since Turkey were considered one of Europe’s poorer footballing nations although they did lose all three group matches in Euro 96 in their major finals debut and were defeated in their first Group B game against Italy.

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A dull draw against Sweden had many thinking, including the hard-hitting Turkish press, that they would be on their way home after their match against Belgium but Sukur’s exploits rubbished the doubters.

Coach Mustafa Denizli is a master tactician and Portugal should beware his impressive grasp of strategy and shrewd footballing brain if they want to ensure their Euro 2000 march is not stopped firmly in its tracks.