Portugal primed for party
After Portugal’s victory in the semi-finals the common consensus among Lisbon folk was that the city had not seen such a frenzied outpouring of celebration for 30 years.
On April 25, 1974 four decades of right-wing dictatorship came to an end in a bloodless coup, known as the Carnation revolution because soldiers put flowers in the end of their guns to symbolise peace.
For everyone over the age of 35, that day and the wild scenes of jubilation that followed are etched on their memory. Yet those same people say that the celebrations that came after Portugal’s victories over Holland and England were so reminiscent of 1974 that they felt they were reliving the past.
The sheer delight so evident among the hosts at being in the final means that ask any neutral in Lisbon and they will be backing Portugal, the favourites, over the underdogs Greece.
There is one other reason too. Unfortunately, Greece are dull. The Trojan horse of European football, they deserve great credit for beating some of the strongest sides on the continent, but it would be a downbeat end to a tournament that ranks as one the better European Championships.
If only Portugal had a world-class striker then there would be virtually no hope for the Greeks. As it is, they have already beaten the hosts once, in the opening match of the tournament, and who is to say that their German coach Otto Rehhagel cannot deliver yet another shock?
Watching Greece has been a bit like watching Arsenal in the George Graham-era. A top-notch defence, high tempo pace, direct attacking football usually cutting out the midfield and winning 1-0.
Rehhagel, one of Germany’s top club coaches, has imprinted the team with his own beliefs and philosophies and, perish the thought, could make man-to-man marking fashionable again.
UEFA’s technical director Andy Roxburgh, the former Scotland manager, says Rehhagel is a very strong character.
“I joke with him that his nickname is Otto-cratic,” says Roxburgh. “He’s always been comfortable with man-to-man marking and he has stuck to what he knows best and he has imposed his thoughts on how he wants the team to play.
“He’s utilised those resources to the limit brilliantly and adapted their mentality and given them a tenacious attitude to winning the ball back.
“It’s quite amazing how they go about it. They are very comfortable in possession, have good technical ability and they are always liable to snatch something as they did against France and the Czech Republic.”
Roxburgh believes that part of their success is because their opponents are no longer used to such defensive tactics.
He adds: “They mark man-to-man and follow the players they are marking right across the pitch. It’s almost as if the other teams have been surprised by it.
“They are not used to it – zonal marking is the norm now. Of the last 16 sides in the Champions League last season, 15 used zonal marking.”
Portugal have their own autocratic figure, Luis Felipe Scolari, who now stands on the verge of completing a unique double, winning the World Cup and European Championships in consecutive tournaments with different countries.
Scolari is much more confident in letting the Portuguese players’ talents and skill shine through, but then again he should be – were he coach of Greece it would no doubt be a different story.
Greece’s outstanding players have been defenders, the full-backs Takis Fyssas and Giourkas Seitaridis especially, but the same has been true of Portugal with their centre-backs Ricardo Carvalho and Jorge Andrade. They are a match for Greece – certainly the best defence that Rehhagel’s side have faced.
Two other facts point to a Portuguese victory. Firstly, Portugal have improved steadily since the tournament began and Scolari has found his best side with Deco and Cristiano Ronaldo replacing Rui Costa and Simao to provide swifter, more direct attacks.
Secondly, the opening match in Porto took place in the afternoon where the intense heat made for a slower game, and allowed Greece to maintain a firm defensive base throughout.
Tomorrow’s final in Lisbon will be in the evening; it should be cooler, and Portugal should respond accordingly.
The nation awaits in trepidation. One coup, however peaceful, in 100 years is enough. If the Greeks win, then it will herald a revolution in European football.
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