Portugal must "stay calm" to win
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-07-04 08:52

Portugal must stay calm and avoid the nerves that caused them to lose to Greece in the opening Euro 2004 match if they are to lift the trophy, according to former Portuguese great Eusebio.

The hosts face the Greeks again in Sunday's final in Lisbon, and Eusebio plans to give his compatriots some advice.

"I'm going to help. I'm going to give them a strong feeling, tell them not to be nervous which can be a problem. When it's your first time in the final you can be very nervous," Eusebio told Reuters on Saturday.

Portugal got stage fright three weeks ago when they lost 2-1 to the unfancied Greeks. The size of the occasion affected the players and coach Luiz Felipe Scolari had to make changes.

"In the first game some players were quite nervous," said the 62-year-old Eusebio. "For some of them it was the first time they had played in such a big tournament.

"But Scolari made his move and changed the team. He's on the right path because since he made those changes Portugal haven't lost. They've played very well in the last three games."

Scolari dropped Paulo Ferreira, Fernando Couto and Rui Costa after the first match and brought in Miguel, Ricardo Carvalho and Deco, with winger Cristiano Ronaldo also establishing himself after the second game.

Eusebio said Scolari would talk with his players to calm their nerves but believes they have made great strides during the tournament.

Great surprise

"I very much believe Portugal will win. Portugal have every chance to win the tournament, although I fully respect the Greek side and their talent," Eusebio said.

"The great surprise of this tournament is definitely the Greeks. Step-by-step their game has improved. They have grown as a team. Everyone thought the Czechs would play Portugal in the final but Greece fully deserve to be in the final."

Greece were 80-1 to win the title before the tournament but upset champions France and the highly rated Czechs to reach the final.

"The final will be very difficult because Greece have a strong defence," Eusebio said. "Portugal must be careful because in the first game they didn't play very well. They mustn't give the ball away -- that's important," Eusebio said.

Greece have been knocked into shape by German Otto Rehhagel who has taken players with limited talents and fashioned them into a formidable team with a high work rate.

"Greece have a good manager," said Eusebio. "They don't play attractive football but they have some good players. They have everything mentally and physically. It will be tough because Greece are determined to win but I still believe in Portugal.

Team spirit

"Portugal also have fine players. They're all working together. They're fit and they're bound by a team spirit and have a strong will to win and it's very important for them to think like that," he added.

Eusebio picked out Portugal captain Luis Figo and Ronaldo as key players.

"The whole team is important but Figo can give more because he has the experience and Cristiano Ronaldo is in good shape," he said.

Eusebio, who was known as the Black Pearl, scored 727 goals in 715 games in his career and played in the Benfica team that beat Real Madrid in the 1962 European Cup final. He was European Footballer of the Year in 1965.

But even Eusebio could not inspire Portugal to reach a major final, although they came close at the 1966 World Cup when they lost 2-1 in the semi-finals to hosts and eventual winners England.

"It's the first time in the history of Portuguese football that they have been in the final," said Eusebio. "Having the same teams opening the tournament and reaching the final has also never happened before in a European Championship.

"But it's important for one of the teams to score in the first few minutes. It would be better to have a more open game and have a good show."

Asked what it would mean for Portugal to win the title, Eusebio said: "There are flags on every house, in every car and everybody today thinks of Portugal, Portugal, Portugal. It would be wonderful for Portugal to win. I hope to be celebrating."

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