Each Wednesday from now until the tournament kicks-off, TheFA.com will be profiling all the countries partipating at Euro 2004.

Portugal are in Euro 2004 Group A with Greece, Russia and Spain. Their manager ‘Big’ Phil Scolari won the 2002 World Cup with Brazil. Premiership players include Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd), Hugo Viana (Newcastle) and Luis Boa Morte (Fulham).

The Facts

Portugal have lost three semi-finals in major tournaments. They were beaten 2-1 by England in the 1966 World Cup and lost to France in the 1984 and 2000 European Championship.

Abel Xavier (left) was banned for nine months for an altercation with officials at the Euro 2000 semi-final. Xavier handled in extra-time against France to allow Zinedine Zidane to score a golden goal penalty.

Eusebio was the leading goalscorer at the 1966 World Cup with nine goals Portugal’s most successful international team was the ‘Golden Generation’ led by Luis Figo that won the under-20s World Cup in 1991.

Ledley King scored England’s goal in a 1-1 draw against Portugal in Faro earlier this year. The last competitive meeting between the countries was at Euro 2000 and ended in a 3-2 Portugal win.

Portugal haven’t won a match this year. They have drawn against England and Sweden and were beaten 2-1 by Italy.

The Opinion

Fulham’s Luis Boa Morte (left) says there is unprecedented excitement in Portugal about hosting Euro 2004 with up to 90 per cent of the country expected to watch their games on television.

"The population of the country is just over 10 million and they are predicting eight or nine million will see our first game against Greece," he reveals.

"The people can’t wait and although we will try to focus on the matches, we have to keep it in our minds what they expect. We have to make sure we give them something to cheer about."

Although hosts generally have a good record in major international tournaments, the pressure can have an adverse effect as well. It’s 20 years since a home country won the European Championship (France in 1984).

In the circumstances, Portugal are glad to have an experienced figure at the helm in former Brazil World Cup-winning boss Phil Scolari.

"He is important because you only have a few days between games and you need someone professional to put things right quickly," says Boa Morte.

"It’s definitely a personal highlight to work with someone who has won the World Cup."

Although the players know victories in their first two group matches against Greece and Russia will be the key to qualifying for the quarter-finals, home supporters are already looking forward to the final game against Spain.

"It’s a massive game for us, just like a local derby," says Boa Morte. "Even if both teams are already through, it will be treated as one of the biggest matches of the tournament.

"Spain beat Portugal 3-0 in a friendly last September and our public have been looking forward to revenge since then."

The Colour

97% of Portuguese people are Roman Catholics.

Top club Sporting Lisbon love British managers. Past bosses include Malcolm Allison, Keith Burkinshaw, John Toshack and Bobby Robson. One of Robson’s young players there was Luis Figo.

The Algarve boasts three thousand hours of sunshine a year.

Portugal is the world’s largest supplier of cork.

The Portuguese press dubbed George Best ‘the Fifth Beatle’ in 1966 after he helped Manchester United beat Benfica 5-1 at the Stadium of Light.

Luis Figo was called "mentally sick" when he joined Real Madrid from fierce rivals Barcelona for a then-world record fee of £37million in 2000.

The Matches

Date

Opponents

Venue

Comp

KO

12 Jun 04

Greece

Porto (Dragão)

ECF

1700

16 Jun 04

Russia

Lisbon (Luz)

ECF

1945

20 Jun 04

Spain

Lisbon (José Alvalade)

ECF

1945



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