“Our economy is in a bad state.” Another, magnanimously seeking common ground, told me Deco would have to “learn to stay on his feet” in the Premiership. Football can do that to a nation.
Television endlessly replayed the celebrations around the country. In Lisbon, people had responded to the shoot-out victory over England by thronging the big squares in greater numbers than at any time since the revolution of 30 years ago. Here in “real” Portugal, as people in the north regard their region, the immediate reaction confirmed the cult of the car.Within minutes of Ricardo’s decisive penalty, it seemed that everyone went straight for their vehicles.
On the seafront at Lavadores, where Porto’s south-west suburbs meet the Atlantic ocean, the power-walkers had an even greater spring in their step yesterday. A woman wearing a red, green and gold bandana led a bulldog of cartoon-like ferocity dressed in a Portugal shirt. Called up in March but not yet capped.THE STRIKERJERMAINE DEFOE (Tottenham Hotspur)Age 21, Caps 2.Prolific goalscorer at every level who made impressive debut from the substitutes’ bench in Sweden in March this year. On stand-by for Euro 2004 and sure to figure for England next season. Confident and quick but needs to develop better awareness of team-mates.. But in football it is only a goal when the referee says it is a goal.”. The 24 matches in the group stage of Euro 2004 have beaten almost all records for football television audiences, according to Uefa.
The total audience for the first round was up 26 per cent compared to Euro 2000 in Europe’s six key markets. His pace and eye for goal could soon challenge David Beckham or, more probably, allow the captain to move inside. Broken hand ruled him out of the European Championship finals, but expected to start to season as Liverpool’s No 1.THE DEFENDERJONATHAN WOODGATE (Newcastle United)Age 24, Caps 5. Injury and his own stupidity have meant an international career which started under Kevin Keegan has never really started but Sven Goran Eriksson has understandable belief in this quick, classy, ball-playing centre-half and he would have been in Portugal but for an injury.THE MIDFIELDERSHAUN WRIGHT-PHILLIPS (Manchester City)Age 22, Caps 0.Step-son of Ian Wright and an exhuberant presence on the right for (at the moment) Manchester City. David Beckham will then be 35 but Wayne Rooney just 24.FACES FOR THE FUTURE FOUR PLAYERS TO GIVE ENGLAND HOPETHE GOALKEEPER CHRIS KIRKLAND (Liverpool)Age 23, Caps 0.Tall, athletic and long earmarked for an international call-up, which would trigger a winning bet for his father, but cruelly denied by injury whenever in line. Perhaps 2010, when South Africa will stage the World Cup amid the thunderstorms and moderate temperatures of a Southern hemisphere winter, is England’s best chance.