Portugal defeated Holland 1-0 during an ill-tempered game in Nuremberg which saw three player sent off and the referee brandishing 17 cards in total.
The game was dogged by incidents of foul play and it was difficult to remember how many each side was playing with at times as the pendulum of possession swung backwards and forwards from one side to another.
Portugal will be happy to have got out of this game with a victory with Maniche scoring the winning goal for his country as he did in the Portuguese victory two years ago in Euro 2004.
Both sides who had rested players for their final game of the group stages returned to full strength with the experience of Portugal ready to do battle with the youth of the Dutch team.
The game started at a slow tempo but picked up as both sides began to own periods of possession throughout the early periods of the game. Holland struck first through Van Bommel who’s shot drifted just wide of the goal after some excellent play from Kuyt. Though there was a better option outside him the midfielders’ effort was inches wide of giving his side the lead.
The game went quiet as both sides planned how to get past defenses who had conceded just three goals between them in the early stages of the competition and it was the first chance for Portugal which helped them take the lead, despite having Cristiano Ronaldo taken off through injury. Figo played a pass to Maniche who was able to step away from three players before unleashing a drive into the back of the net.
The Manchester United keeper Van Der Saar had no chance with the effort as Portugal who had done very little in the game to that point gave themselves an excellent chance of setting up another meeting with England in the quarter finals.
Sadly after the goal from Maniche the game began to be dogged by moments of ill discipline and the technical game of both sides as sacrificed for rough housing and controversial incidents.
Despite this however the first half ended on a high with a flurry of goal mouth activity. Holland, looking to get back into the game constantly threatened through Robben and Van Persie and it was the Arsenal mans efforts which were almost rewarded by a superb turn and shot which just missed the goal at the far post. Twisting and shimmying into the box before stabbing a shot towards the net was not enough to help Van Persie to his second goal of the tournament but it was enough to give his side confidence going into the second half.
The game was nearly beyond them just on the stroke of half time however as Pauleta was denied from close range by the Dutch keeper. After controlling a cross from Maniche the attacker drove a volley in on goal but was denied by the feet of Van Der Saar.
Four minutes into the second half Portugal became sloppy in possession and Holland were a whisker away from making their way back into the game. A ball in from Kuyt was poorly defended but despite being unmarked in the box Cocu was denied by the crossbar from seven yards.
The PSV players drive was excellently placed and he was unlucky to strike the woodwork than give his side a route back into the game.
Moments after Cocu had hit the woodwork it was left to Simao to replicate his effort at the other end. After a free kick given away the Benfica star curled the ball just too high to hit the net as the ball flicked the bar on the way over. Despite having very little possession and being largely dominated for chances Portugal still looked as if they had something left to give the game and Simao almost sealed the win in style.
Ten minutes from the end Kuyt nearly evened things up but Ricardo in the Portugal goal was equal to his powerfully struck shot. Clear through on goal Kuyt hit his shot too close to the keeper who made a quality save before palming the ball away to safety.
The final chance of the game however fell to Kuyt and Holland who knew it wasn't going to be their day which a brilliantly struck volley on the turn was stopped once more by Ricardo.
As much as Holland were pressing despite being reduced in numbers it was never going to be enough to beat Portugal who defended resolutely and looked comfortable despite being outnumbered in attack. It was the finalists of Euro 2004 who went on to face England in a rematch of the game which saw them progress to the semis of that competition with a win on penalties.
The game was dogged by incidents of foul play and it was difficult to remember how many each side was playing with at times as the pendulum of possession swung backwards and forwards from one side to another.
Portugal will be happy to have got out of this game with a victory with Maniche scoring the winning goal for his country as he did in the Portuguese victory two years ago in Euro 2004.
Both sides who had rested players for their final game of the group stages returned to full strength with the experience of Portugal ready to do battle with the youth of the Dutch team.
The game started at a slow tempo but picked up as both sides began to own periods of possession throughout the early periods of the game. Holland struck first through Van Bommel who’s shot drifted just wide of the goal after some excellent play from Kuyt. Though there was a better option outside him the midfielders’ effort was inches wide of giving his side the lead.
The game went quiet as both sides planned how to get past defenses who had conceded just three goals between them in the early stages of the competition and it was the first chance for Portugal which helped them take the lead, despite having Cristiano Ronaldo taken off through injury. Figo played a pass to Maniche who was able to step away from three players before unleashing a drive into the back of the net.
The Manchester United keeper Van Der Saar had no chance with the effort as Portugal who had done very little in the game to that point gave themselves an excellent chance of setting up another meeting with England in the quarter finals.
Sadly after the goal from Maniche the game began to be dogged by moments of ill discipline and the technical game of both sides as sacrificed for rough housing and controversial incidents.
Despite this however the first half ended on a high with a flurry of goal mouth activity. Holland, looking to get back into the game constantly threatened through Robben and Van Persie and it was the Arsenal mans efforts which were almost rewarded by a superb turn and shot which just missed the goal at the far post. Twisting and shimmying into the box before stabbing a shot towards the net was not enough to help Van Persie to his second goal of the tournament but it was enough to give his side confidence going into the second half.
The game was nearly beyond them just on the stroke of half time however as Pauleta was denied from close range by the Dutch keeper. After controlling a cross from Maniche the attacker drove a volley in on goal but was denied by the feet of Van Der Saar.
Four minutes into the second half Portugal became sloppy in possession and Holland were a whisker away from making their way back into the game. A ball in from Kuyt was poorly defended but despite being unmarked in the box Cocu was denied by the crossbar from seven yards.
The PSV players drive was excellently placed and he was unlucky to strike the woodwork than give his side a route back into the game.
Moments after Cocu had hit the woodwork it was left to Simao to replicate his effort at the other end. After a free kick given away the Benfica star curled the ball just too high to hit the net as the ball flicked the bar on the way over. Despite having very little possession and being largely dominated for chances Portugal still looked as if they had something left to give the game and Simao almost sealed the win in style.
Ten minutes from the end Kuyt nearly evened things up but Ricardo in the Portugal goal was equal to his powerfully struck shot. Clear through on goal Kuyt hit his shot too close to the keeper who made a quality save before palming the ball away to safety.
The final chance of the game however fell to Kuyt and Holland who knew it wasn't going to be their day which a brilliantly struck volley on the turn was stopped once more by Ricardo.
As much as Holland were pressing despite being reduced in numbers it was never going to be enough to beat Portugal who defended resolutely and looked comfortable despite being outnumbered in attack. It was the finalists of Euro 2004 who went on to face England in a rematch of the game which saw them progress to the semis of that competition with a win on penalties.