Couto convinced Portugal are ready

Portugal defender Fernando Couto admits that his team are carrying the burden of high expectations into Euro 2004 but is confident he and his team-mates have the character to fulfil the hopes of the host nation.

Speaking on the eve of the tournament opener between Portugal and Greece at the Estadio do Dragao, Couto expressed his hope that the national team would not disappoint a country that is always passionate about football but which has been going into frenzy as the kick-off approaches.

Television and radio talk about little else while Portuguese flags seem omnipresent on cars and houses in the host nation.

Couto is confident the team will not let down its supporters, saying: “We hope to take a step towards the next round.

“We will have to give our maximum output against Greece but I think the players are ready and today we know we have to live up to the expectations of the Portuguese people.”

Couto is one of the “golden generation” of Portuguese 30-somethings who are veterans of the Portuguese youth team that won the 1989 and 1991 World Cups for that age group.

At the time it was predicted that the golden boys would repeat that success at senior level but as things stand Portugal have still not reached any major football final.

Time is running out for 34-year-old Couto, 31-year-old Luis Figo and 32-year-old Manuel Rui Costa – a fact that is not lost on Couto, who is expected to partner Jorge Andrade in central defence against Greece.

“People are expecting so much of us and we are determined to play well (against Greece). The main priority is to get the three points because we want to live up to expectations and give people a reason to be cheerful,” he said.

With Porto having recently won the Champions League, Brazil’s World Cup winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari in charge of the Portugal team and, most of all, home advantage, expectations have never been higher of a team that has never reached the final of a major football tournament.

The expectation does not worry Couto who said: “I don’t think this gives us a particular problem because it is entirely normal – and the supporters of all the teams want to win.

“It is a pleasure to play for Portugal and this will be a great experience.”

Portugal have expressed their pleasure at the appointment of Italian referee Pierluigi Collina to handle the opening game – they have often felt in the past they have been cursed by poor officiating.

In 1966 the Eusebio-inspired Portuguese were forced to switch their semi-final with England from Goodison Park to Wembley at short notice in a decision that was seen as blatant favouritism towards the hosts while there was anger that such a lenient view was taken of Nobby Stiles’ treatment of Eusebio.

In 1984, Portugal felt that Michel Platini’s injury-time winner in the European Championships in an all-time classic match won 3-2 by France came after the final whistle should have been blown.

Four years ago in Brussels there were furious scenes when France won the semi-final with a Zinedine Zidane golden goal penalty with several Portuguese players given lengthy bans for jostling the referee. In this case their protests looked unfounded as TV evidence showed that Sylvain Wiltord’s shot clearly struck Abel Xavier’s hand on the goalline.

Those are the only three semi-finals that Portugal have reached in their history and Figo was pleased that Collina has been given the match with Greece.

“We all know he (Collina) is the best prepared referee,” said Figo.

“It’s not my job to worry about referees,” he said. “There are more important things to worry about and we must concentrate on our own game.”