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21/06/02 'THE HAND OF THE DEVIL'. With a neatly modified allusion to that other famous hand, the front page of the sports daily Record
summed up what most of Portugal seemed to be thinking about the João Pinto 'punching' incident. Rather refreshingly for once, the public were not out for the blood of Argentinian referee Angel Sanchez
but for that of their erstwhile hero. The public's will was not being done, however. On discussion boards and radio and TV phone-ins, in bars and on buses, there were unmistakable calls for some sort of
exemplary punishment for the player, even before the provisional suspension was handed down from FIFA. What the public wanted, it was clear, was something from the ruling body in Portugal, the Federação
Portuguesa de Futebol (FPF), that would satisfy their blood-lust and would begin to paste over the cracks in the image the Portuguese national side had left in Korea. The FPF, though, had made it clear immediately
after the incident just whose side they were on. "I've already had a meeting with the president of Sporting plc, Miguel Ribeiro Teles, to try to minimise the effects of an attitude that was spontaneous," said
FPF president Gilberto Madaíl. That the top man in the FPF should have to consult with the player's club before taking any action spoke volumes for the lily-liveredness of the institution. Other prominent
figures at home were falling over themselves to support João Pinto. Blustery president of the Liga Valentim Loureiro, a personal friend, shouted his defence on TV channel SIC: "I don't see any act of
aggression. I do see JP's right arm against the referee, and I agree that the player got near the referee when he was protesting, but I still believe that the player did not punch him." The president of Sporting
Club, Dias de Cunha, had all the facts at his disposal because he had spoken to JP: "The short conversation I had with him served to reinforce my conviction that he is completely innocent in terms of
physical aggression." Also taking the player's word for it was Miguel Ribeiro Teles, who introduced a new angle to the incident: "The player admits openly that he acted badly and exaggerated in his
protests. At that moment he was pushed and that's where the contact with the referee came from." Midfielder Petit, who was supposed to have done the pushing, made sure his own back was covered a couple of
days later by denying it. The Players' Union
were predictably right behind their member: "We ask everybody involved in football, in particular the press, to have the necessary serenity to wait for the process to unfold, avoiding a public trial of the player, which would have repercussions on his personal and family life."
The only official voice to condemn JP's (still 'alleged') action was the Referee's Association
(APAF): "There can be no sort of solidarity with someone who has this kind of attitude, nor any consideration for someone who calls into question the good name of Portuguese football."
To which their member, Vítor Pereira, still in Korea at the time, added: "I'm sad at the situation ... it puts the good name of the country at risk ... This is the first time ever in the history of the World
Cup that a player has assaulted a referee ... People cannot put their heads in the sand and pretend that nothing has happened ... Those responsible for sport in Portugal have to say something because this is a national
question. It's a question of sporting culture." Needless to say, both APAF and Pereira were in turn condemned by JP's defenders. The incident did indeed put the name of Portuguese football and the country
at risk, but whether it was that good a name or not is debatable; as the players milled round referee Sanchez, and Fernando Couto appeared to be trying to screw his head off, the first though that sprang to mind was: "Here we go again!" Still fresh in the memory were the lamentable scenes of anarchy at the end of the EURO 2000 semi-final against France when that Abel Xavier handball gave the hosts a penalty and a ticket to the final.
João Pinto faces severe sanctions
from FIFA if, as seems likely, it's proven that he did punch Sanchez. Any punishment will be welcomed by the vast majority of people in Portugal, while it will be yet another prime opportunity for those in power in Portuguese football to flex their self-interested muscles with what will be vehement protests.
Meanwhile, the incident has conveniently diverted attention away from the national side's abysmal performance
in Korea, but this will not go away. The reasons for the debacle are coming to light little by little and are beginning to form a not entirely unexpected picture of generalised incompetence.
But that's a story for another day. 14/06/01 An inglorious exit from the World Cup for 'The Golden Generation' and for most of the players the last chance to shine in this competition. Portugal went into the game knowing that they needed to win to be certain of going through to the last 16, but that a Polish win against the USA would be enough to leave Portugal needing just a draw. Early in the game news got through that Poland were indeed winning 2-0. Portugal could breathe more easily. But in the opening minutes, South Korea were showing their mettle, pressurising the key Portuguese players like Figo, João Pinto and Sérgio Conceição. Portugal were keeping a lot of possession, but it was harmless; they weren't getting near the Korean goal, and vice-versa. Then on 27 minutes, the first turning point of the game: João Pinto dived recklessly into a challenge with both feet and the Argentinian referee had little choice but to show him a direct red card. Portugal were keeping their heads despite the setback. The first good chance for either team came on 34 minutes when Figo put Pauleta through. The scorer of a hat-trick against Poland this time rushed his shot over. Os Tugas kept possession until half-time: it wasn't pretty, but they needed to re-group. The beginning of the second half saw South Korea's two best chances, headers by Seol and Yoo that went wide. Portugal were not advancing: Figo could be seen sweeping up balls on the edge of his area - not his job. Then on 65 minutes, the second bombshell: Beto saw a second yellow for a foul out on the touchline, and Portugal were down to nine men. But Portugal were still all right - news came in of another goal for Poland. If only they could hold on to the draw. They couldn't. On 70 minutes, Park brought a cross down with his chest to the right of the goal, cut inside Sérgio Conceição (in the left-back position!) and fired a low shot in through the helpless Baía's legs. From then on it was all hands to the pumps. Portugal had four clear chances to equalise: Figo put a free-kick just wide, Nuno Gomes, on as sub, fluffed a great chance in front of goal, Sérgio Conceição hit a post and the same player made a chance for himself on the left but fired his shot straight at the ´keeper. It was desperate stuff, with Fernando Couto and even Vítor Baía charging forward, but in the end it was not to be. Portugal go home frustratingly early, South Korea and the USA proceed. 10/06/02 It was like chalk and cheese. After the debacle of the 2-3 defeat to the USA, Portugal needed a special performance and the right result against Poland to restore faith and pride in the team and to keep their World Cup hopes alive. They achieved both in the 4-0 crushing of the Poles. The Poles came out strongly, suggesting that their game plan was to stifle Portugal's stars with pressing. But Portugal were soon on top of the situation. Oliveira made two important changes from the first game: Fréchaut came in at right back and Paulo Bento replaced Rui Costa to accompany Petit and make the midfield more solid. The front players interchanged positions constantly, at one moment Pauleta appearing on the left, then João Pinto, then Figo. Figo and João Pinto also fell back to more central, deeper positions to create play from there. It was a tactic that worked to perfection. The defence also was much more solid. The two central defenders Jorge Costa and Fernando Couto soaked up everything that came their way, the flanks were better guarded and Vítor Baía wiped the slate clean with a very sound display, although it must be said that this time, Poland weren't allowed the freedom that the USA were granted in front of goal. Another change was in attitude. This was a team who knew what was at stake: fight or oblivion. They chose the first and keep their hopes alive. How they played: Vítor Baía
- This was a different player from the jittery specimen on display in the USA game. Decisive with crosses, determined coming out, he exuded a confidence that spread throughout the defence. More of the same against South Korea, please, Portugal! 06/06/02 Vergonha was the word most heard in bars, on the bus, in the shops in the aftermath of the American fiasco. Vergonha - Disgrace. After just about the whole country stopped to watch the game (as did the team, suggested A Bola's 'Barber' cartoon strip) the Portuguese could just not comprehend how such a group of players, the self-hyped favourites in the group and a widely-tipped outside bet for the trophy itself, could play so, so badly. The TV stations hastily assembled 'expert'
panels
of journalists, players, ex-players, coaches and ex-coaches, their brief: to get to the bottom of the mystery. Of course, punches were pulled: the coaches, including Toni (ex-Benfica) and Octávio Machado (ex-FC Porto) were loath to cross the ethical line and lay into António Oliveira, while the players (including Rui Barros) sought incidental excuses like the squad's exhausting seasons, and tried to be upbeat.
The journalists were generally less kind. Their targets, and those of the general public, were: Vítor Baía, the back-line, the form of the 'key' players, the team's attitude, António Oliveira's selection, his
lack of tactical nous, the team's fitness. Vítor Baía
had a miserable season. He was always struggling against injury and when he played he struggled with erratic levels of confidence. He played in none of Portugal's qualifying games. He was, by general consent, lucky to make the cut at all and actually travel east. But then in Macau, there he was in the final preparation game against China at the expense of the solid, dependable Ricardo, who
had had a good season and had
played in the qualifying games. And then there was Baía again on the team sheet for the USA match. His jittery performance in the first half-hour was hugely influential. And the question had to be asked: why was he there? And the only plausible answer that anyone could come up with was this: that he's a mate of Oliveira's and the rest of the 'Golden Generation'.
A 'Golden Generation'
that is now looking more than a little tarnished. The 'key' players, the ones that have been first on the team list since the early nineties - Baía, Fernando Couto, Jorge Costa, Rui Costa, João Pinto, Figo - all had stinkers. Couto and Jorge Costa were so all at sea against the impressive McBride that lifeboats were sent out to look for them. Rui Costa, unprotected in midfield (Petit also had a terrible game) was a shadow of his former self, but then he has been for some time now. Ditto Figo, who for some reason was the main focus of the close-up cameras on the TV coverage but whose only contribution of note was a clever little shuffle ... on the halfway line! João Pinto fell over a couple of times, realised that the ref wasn't having any of it then sort of ran around a bit for the rest of the game (
A Bola still managed to make him Portugal's man of the match, though). The squad had approached the game (and the tournament) with a suicidal superiority complex, fuelled by the press and public opinion.
It was an attitude of "we only have to turn up." Stunned and wobbled by the American right hooks and uppercuts of the first half hour, they just didn't have the mind set to turn it round, even with half the
game remaining and a half-time interval in which to re-group. A half-time interval in which we all expected António Oliveira to make some fundamental changes that would plug the holes in the sinking ship. Nothing
further from the truth. Portugal came out for the second half looking the same, aimless bunch of strangers, with a solitary Pauleta charging around up front and missing a hatful of half-chances in the process. Early in
the second half, Nuno Gomes
got up off the bench to start warming up. "Hooray", we inwardly cheered. No. On came defensive midfielder Paulo Bento, then central defender Jorge Andrade. Ten minutes from time, Gomes got the call. It was half an hour, some would say eighty minutes, too late.
By this time, Os Tugas were moving around the pitch as if they were actually dressed in O Tuga
mascot costumes. Prime Minister Durão Barroso said later that if they could have played an extra 15 minutes, Portugal would have done it. With all due respect, your honourableness, if they'd played an extra 15 minutes, they would all have been horizontal. "How", the inquest asked, "Could the players get so
knackered
after two weeks' preparation, and in only the first game, knowing that if they had any ambitions at all, the campaign would last three, or even four weeks? And how could the USA be so extravagantly fit?" António Oliveira had an answer for this one: "You have to remember that the USA (and Korea) have been preparing for this for six months." Ah, we see.
In fact for some, the two weeks' preparation time was a disadvantage: Portugal were the last to enter the stage, and this created debilitating anxiety
in the players, eager to get in there and at 'em. A wag on one of the Portuguese discussion boards suggested that anxiety was to blame for the USA debacle, certainly, but it was the anxiety the players felt that a plane might fall on their heads at any moment.
The next day, the shock of the result had eased slightly. Sports daily O Jogo simply recorded the general feeling: "HORRIBLE!" A Bola
was more encouraging: "GET UP!" Everyone was trying to be upbeat: "It's not all over! If we win the next two, we can do it!" But Wednesday's game is hanging like a big black cloud
over Portuguese hopes, and the declarations of faith have a decidedly hollow ring to them.
05/06/02 Portugal 2-3 USA (World Cup, Group D, Game 1) Portugal started with two surprises: Baía in goal at the expense of Ricardo and Beto at right-back at the expense of Fréchaut. It was a side split in two: five defensive-minded players and five of a more attacking nature. This breach was made apparent as the game developed; Rui Costa was not up to organising the whole of creative play, and the result was a generally aimless game plan. But there were other factors. 1) The USA proved to be a very cohesive, clinical when necessary and fit fighting unit. António Oliveira had warned that this was the case: nobody seemed to have been listening. 2) All the key players in the Portuguese side had bad days: Figo was inconsequential, Baía looked nervous early on and may be partially faulted for the first two goals; the central defenders Jorge Costa and Fernando Couto looked vulnerable against the mightily impressive McBride; Petit was a shadow of the incisive player he's been all season; Rui Costa rarely made a significant pass; Pauleta had three chances with the head that came to nothing. 3) The USA looked fresher. While it's true that the Portuguese have generally been involved in more arduous seasons, they also had a long time to recuperate before this opening game, but their lack of vigour was crucial. 4) Portugal's goals were scored by a defender and an own goal ... Oliveira brought Nuno Gomes on ten minutes from time ... OS Tugas now have an uphill battle: they need to beat Poland and South Korea to be sure of going through. On today's showing, this seems a lot to ask. How they played: Vítor Baía
- A half-surprise in goal. He had played (well) in the friendly against China, but Ricardo had been the most consistent 'keeper over the season. Looked wobbly early on and could be faulted for the first goal, where McBride's goalwards header might have been caught. It wasn't, and O'Brien followed up to score. For the second goal, he left his near post exposed and the ball deflected off Jorge Costa and in. He had no chance with the third goal and improved slightly as the game went on.
Next game v Poland on Monday, June 10th. This is a game Portugal must win. Some possible solutions: 1) Attitude 2) Selection. 3) Ideal line-up.
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