Divine inspiration
Be it divine inspiration or devilish rage, Figo played a starring role as the host nation progressed to Sunday's UEFA European Championship final with a 2-1 victory against the Netherlands. From a personal perspective, Figo will become the first man to captain Portugal in a major final; from a team one, the demons of UEFA EURO 2000™ have been exorcised.

Skill and exuberance
Figo and Costinha were the only starting survivors of the side beaten 2-1 by France in the EURO 2000™ semi-final in Brussels, while Dick Advocaat started with six of the team that lost to Italy in the semi-finals of the same competition, with Marc Overmars the most notable introduction having been previously deployed as "a final weapon late on" during UEFA EURO 2004™.

Cap count
Overmars' pace and experience would complement the skill and exuberance of Arjen Robben, and create a perfect symmetry with Portugal's wide men Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo. Despite both being 31 and with a joint cap count ticking towards 200, Overmars and Figo began like men with points to prove. Two early Overmars tackles signalled that he was up for the fight, while Figo provided the first telling ball of the match - a low, curling centre which teased all but Jaap Stam at the far post.

Flanks switched
A switch of flanks with Figo brought Ronaldo into focus, the 19-year-old setting his sights with a first glimpse of goal in the 18th minute. Edwin van der Sar smothered that low shot with ease, but the goalkeeper could only stand motionless as Ronaldo rose to head in Deco's 26th-minute corner.

Scolari request
"Portugal, ole" rang around the stadium as a swathe of red-shirted fans danced in unison, obviously having taken heed of Scolari's request to don the national colours of Portugal. Be it fashion or formations, people listen when 'Big Phil' speaks. Portugal's 4-2-3-1 system was flexible, allowing attacking players to interchange and Maniche to support the wide men.

Burden lifted
Overmars was overshadowing Robben for the Dutch and it was from the former's through-ball that Ruud van Nistelrooij scored, only to have it chalked out for offside. The near miss served to galvanise the Portuguese, particularly Figo. The captain toyed with Giovanni van Bronckhorst and curled a wonderful left-foot shot beyond Van der Sar but against the post.

Makaay on
Overmars' work was done, though, and he failed to reappear for the second half, Advocaat introducing Roy Makaay to support the isolated Van Nistelrooij. The Netherlands needed time to adjust, yet Portugal were in no mood to accommodate and almost took advantage only for Pauleta to shoot straight at Van der Sar. The goalkeeper was not so fortunate when Maniche beat him with a rasping drive from Ronaldo's pass.

Dutch lifeline
Having self-destructed four years ago, Portugal showed no sign of losing their discipline, even when Jorge Andrade inadvertently clipped the ball over Ricardo and into his own net. Scolari shored up his midfield with Petit, and left on Figo - on the occasion of his 109th cap - to lead the host nation into Sunday's final. Thirteen years to the day since they won the FIFA World Youth Championship, the last survivors of the Golden Generation have their chance to deliver.

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