Best team in the tournament-definitely not, luckiest team in the history of football- most definitely. I hope they enjoy their party, they'll never be able to pull a stunt like that again.

[img]graemlins/crying.gif[/img]

I can't believe it. :(

That's what I was thinking - how could Portugal break through Greece's defense if they had all their players back!? I know it wasn't Portugal's best game, but the way Greece played (and always play) was/is just so - irriating.

To quote Scolari: "They won defensively. They won because they knew how to play in that way."

I would hardly call Ronaldo's footwork "pointless." Ronaldo didn't make the national team just on his footwork, but on his overall ability. If you've watched Ronaldo in as many games as I have, you would know that that he's one of the best players in Portugal.

I couldn't agree more.

This year is just full of surprises ain't it?

yeck... oh well I had a feeling the Greeks will win... what on earth are they eating?! hehehe [img]tongue.gif[/img]

NOOOOOOOOO! Portugal won! I was crying too. :(

But atill, I am happy for Greece. They did a good job and are a nice surpprise.

ADD] Looking at Cristiano Ronaldo when he was crying was really heart-braking.

[ 07-05-2004, 05:34 AM: Message edited by: Xen ]

Hard work, discipline, organization, superb tactics, nearly flawless teamwork, incredibly strong psyches (notice how coolly they acted in their defense and when they won possession even in the final 5 minutes when the Portuguese were pressing on for an equalizer like hell?), and a good deal of individual skill. I think all of these weigh in slightly heavier than luck.

Luck wasn't a bigger factor for them than for anyone else, more likely less so. The Portuguese should consider themselves very lucky that they got to the finals (I'm thinking of the Urs Meier incident, among other things) considering the poor performances they've mostly put out in this tournament.

For all his brilliance (I agree, he was superb against Spain and very entertaining to watch, but the game against Spain was the only good performance Portugal put out in this tour), he accomplished less than most of the Greek players, and blew it quite badly the few times that he did get a chance to score.

I reckon - I had to hold back tears myself.