Figo's final fling
They were inspired by the magnificent Luis Figo on a night when tension and the fear of making a mistake exerted a big influence on a game that was not as memorable in a skilful sense as some that had gone before, but compensated in the raw courage shown by two committed teams.
Portugal deserved to win, if only because they created more scoring chances over the 90 minutes. But they almost blew their chance of qualifying for a historic first major championship final with an extremely nervous and fretful opening, when Netherlands might well have taken a decisive grip.
Portugal's early indecision was predictable given the significance of the occasion, the atmosphere and the sky-high expectations of their boisterous fans.
Netherlands strolled through the first 20 minutes with style and panache.
They ruled midfield, stretched the left flank of Portugal's defence through the speed of Overmars and Reiziger and threatened to dominate the game. But there was little substance to their style.
Instead Portugal shed their timidity, lost their tentative attitude and moved aggressively into a position of authority. The transformation was down to one man, the marvellous Figo.
He worked both wings in turn, swopping with Ronaldo, and when he reached the conclusion that the right flank offered a better return, he proceeded to give full rein to his formidable range of skills.
Figo's displeasure at his withdrawal against England was palpably clear at the time, the slight to his reputation was the catalyst for a bravura performance from the talented winger. He was simply superb, always presenting himself as an option and driving a substantial wedge through the Dutch defensive line with the consistency of a kango hammer.
His pre-eminence was remarkable as Portugal took inspiration from an opening goal after 26 minutes that was childish in its simplicity. Ronaldo jumped unchallenged in the penalty box to reach a left wing corner from Deco to head beyond Van Der Sar from ten yards.
Only Netherlands will be able to explain how it was that in a penalty area so crowded, Ronaldo rose unimpeded to steer the ball home. Van Bronckhorst was flat-footed behind him, Reiziger caught under the ball in front of him.
Netherlands suddenly found their position of calm assurance undermined, but they should have equalised almost immediately. Robben linked with Seedorf and Davids for a cross from the left that was headed high into the air by Carvalho. The ball fell conveniently for Overmars but his shot from 15 yards was hurried and inaccurate.
Portugal's football was energised by their goal, the ringing endorsement of their work from their baying fans a huge encouragement. Pauleta, so active, so earnest but so wasteful, should have made their position more secure when the outstanding Maniche crossed one from the right for Pauleta to volley into the grateful arms of Van Der Sar from no more than ten yards.
Portugal grew ever more exuberant in their play as half-time approached and when Van Nistelrooy put the ball in the net only to be caught fractionally offside in the 39th minute, it looked as if Portugal would clinch it any moment. Figo smashed a glorious shot from the right wing against an upright, Pauleta spurned yet another when he failed to make contact with Figo's 45th minute cross as Netherlands struggled to stay the pace.
Yet they put their minutes of anxiety behind them to come back with vigour and skill in an absorbing second-half. All the more credit to them for doing so even after they had fallen a second goal behind in the 58th minute.
Maniche, so influential in Portugal's midfield throughout this championship, found his own particular moment of gratification as Ronaldo played a left-wing corner short to him. Maniche turned on goal and, from just outside the left corner of the penalty box, swerved an explosive shot in off the far upright.
What a gesture from Maniche! What a statement of intent from a driven and focused Portugal! What a savage blow to the very heart of Netherlands' resistance.
They responded in the manner of the thoroughbreds, with fire and fury and unrelenting consistency. Manager Dick Advocaat rang the changes, the so-ordered formation was pulled out of synch, the rhythm was staccato rather than smooth but the Dutch comeback was heroic in its intensity.
They played upon Portugal's insecurity when they applied sustained pressure on a defence that grew increasingly more desperate after conceding a disastrous own-goal in the 63rd minute. Van Bronckhorst, who was much more convincing against Figo in the second-half, spun in a cross from the left and Jorge Andrade mis-cued his attempted clearance over the head of his own goalkeeper with Van Nistelrooy applying pressure.
From there the contest was sheer pantomime for the uncommitted. There were errors galore, moments of mad panic, impassioned challenges, supplications and arguments with referee and assistants as passion grew.
Portugal should have taken advantage of Netherlands' growing desperation but in their own desperation Maniche shot against Cocu when given a clear sight of goal, Deco appealed in vain for a free when overhauled by Stam as he ran clear when a more committed drive for goal would surely have been profitable and Deco dwelt too long in front of Van Der Sar after Figo invited him to claim a third goal just ten yards out in added time.
Through it all the Dutch tried might and main to force extra-time but without success. Cocu had the ball in the net but there was an obvious offside and while the scenes of celebration at the final whistle were exhilarating, one could not avoid a certain sympathy for Netherlands, who met this huge challenge with courage and skill and fell fractionally short.
Ricardo; Miguel, Carvalho, Andrade, Nuno Valente; Ronaldo (Petit 67), Maniche (Couto 87), Costinha, Deco, Figo; Pauleta (Nuno Gomes 75).
Van Der Sar; Reiziger, Stam, Bouma (Van der Vaart 56), Van Bronckhorst; Overmars (Makaay 46), Seedorf, Cocu, Davids, Robben (Van Hooijdonk 81); Van Nistelrooy.
A. Frisk (Sweden).
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