Portugal V Greece: 2-1
Portugal looked rattled frm e 1st min 2 e last against a Greek side tt was inventive..concise..and predatory...all words tt cld nt apply 2 e host nation hu were all fingers n thumbs @ e Estadio do Dragao..plus a tight defense tt figo n co. had trouble getting past...karagounis gave greece e lead wif 6 mins on e clock when he took advantage of hesitant defending..shooting frm 25m..putting a right footed shot juz inside e right hand post of ricardo...n e clincher-a penalty frm basinas..came early in e second period aft another self inflicted blow..a foul by subst ronaldo on seitaridis...ronaldo..hu nonetheless looked his side's most dangerous player..made partial amends wif a headed goal frm figo's corner deep into injury time @ e 93rd min..bt dere was nt enuff time left 4 e hosts 2 complete e salvage job...
Spain V Russia: 1-0
many thousands of spanish fans had flooded across e border..juz 50 miles away..2 outnumber e russians 2 to 1 in dis impressive new stadium..whr frm e very top u cld c e Algarve coastline glinting in e sun...it took Spain more sweat n toil than dey had anticipated bt saez's side gt off 2 e start 2 e Euro 2004 finals dey had dreamed of...e decider came wif subst valeron's 1st touch aft saez had made drastic changes on e hour 2 haul off star men morientes n baraja...e changes wked a treat wif Spain taking e lead a min ltr thru valeron..hu had been pushed in2 a attacking midfield role leaving raul on his own up front...e goal came when puyol surged 2 e line n pulled e ball bac 4 e deportivo star 2 take control..create space n fire e ball past ovchinnikov...bt injury ravaged Russia defended bravely n created a few dangerous moments of deir own...in e end though it was class n skill tt won e day rather than a side prepared 2 notch up e bookings trying 2 stay in e chase...
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vanna
12:05
