Portuguese finding their rhythm

AS the beat goes on some people at Euro `96 are finding their rhythm. Portuguese fans like nothing better then jumping up and down in unison while waving their scarves around there heads. Their team attacks with something of the same tempo. Spectacular sights.

Portugal went to the City Ground, Nottingham yesterday needing just a draw with Croatia in order to advance to the quarter finals. They scored after just four minutes and for the remainder of the afternoon played football that wasn't just worthy of celebration but was celebration itself.

Croatia will have made few friends for themselves in Denmark. The Danes needed a Croatian win yesterday and having vowed publicly to strive for the full nine points from their three group matches it looked as if the Croatians were capable of providing.

Instead they opted to leave Bob an, Asanovic, Suker and Stimac on the bench from the start. As such they looked like shadows of the team which tormented the Danes last weekend. All the fluency came from the young Portuguese side.

Their first goal came with a gallop by Secretario down the right flank. The otherwise excellent Croatian wing back Jarni lifted a boot to block the inevitable cross but could only watch as the ball rolled sweetly for Luis Figo who had the uncomplicated task of side footing to the net.

The pattern continued. This topsy turvy group has produced some of the most attractive football this tournament has seen so far and lots of it has been Portuguese. Occasionally they look naive in defence and their enthusiasm means they fall for offside traps more often then they should, but when they find their confidence the thrills come cascading.

The Portuguese midfield always looks likely to yield goals. Sousa, Figo and Joao Pinto can sense virtually no other responsibility but attack. In the 22nd minute yesterday Sa Pinto, Joao Pinto, Rui Costa and Sa Pinto again combined for a breathtaking series of flicks which wove the ball right across the Croatian area and right through the Croatian defence before a careless touch rolled the ball out of play.

Ten minutes later the promise of that move was realised. Rui Costa flicked a corner kick on with his head, Sa Pinto changed the direction of the move with an overhead pass, Jaon Pinto just slotted to the net.

After the break both teams made changes. The Croatians, alarmed perhaps at the apparent shallowness of their squad, introduced Suker, Boban and Asanovic. The last named, recently snapped up by Derby County in a neat transfer coup, looked the most dangerous, snapping left foot shots at Baia for the next 45 minutes.

Despite the improved positively from Croatia the game was never going to swing their way. The afternoon had that look about it from early on. Oceans headed a wicked Asanovic free off the line Baia made an extraordinary save from Asanovic's low 30 yard drive Jarni continued to raid down the left flank Portugal were blithely unperturbed.

In the 83rd minute the Croatians had the confirmation that this was an off day. Pavlicic sought to make a defensive clearance and carelessly drove the ball into the back of team mate Bilic. Domingos, the Portuguese league's top scorer and a second half introduction, found himself free and cutting diagonally across the Croatian penalty area. A neat side foot sent the ball the other way back across in front Mrmic.

For the Portuguese the incline of these championships is about to get a little steeper. Their joyful exuberant football is best seen against sides who permit open play. The opposition from now on is likely to be a little more technical, a little more cynical.