Boot out neighbours

Portugal’s win was all about Luiz Felipe Scolari and his men righting perceived wrongs.

Whether those wrongs involved more than 1,000 years of intertwined history, Spain’s rejected bid to host this championship or the slightly more relevant failure to beat Spain at football for 23 years, it all climaxed in Lisbon on Sunday.

Inspired by teenager Cristiano Ronaldo, who wasn’t even born the last time Portugal beat Spain, they carried the game to the Spanish throughout the first half.

With Deco probing for every opening and the iconic Figo revelling in private duels against his Real Madrid team mates Iker Casillas, Ivan Helguera, Raul Bravo and Raul, Portugal were livelier, nimbler and better organised than Spain.

Spain, who looked like Real Madrid in a changed strip of all white, played for long like Real Madrid too — but the Real of the last two months of the season, when the club side totally lost their form. The Portuguese defence, with Jorge Andrade and Costinha imperious, were up for the challenge and when Spain did break through they rarely troubled goalkeeper Ricardo who did not have a serious shot to save all match.

‘‘We have to be really proud’’, an emotional Figo said after the match. ‘‘In general, I think we did a great job and we’re glad to be in the quarter-finals. When you play at home the pressure is really high and all the players were worried about that pressure.’’

Scolari said the crowd had played a vital role. ‘‘Fortunately, we won and we’re happy. I want to send congratulations to the public, which weren’t the 12th player, but the 13th and the 14th’’, he said.

The result sent the country into raptures, 23 years to the day since Portugal last beat their neighbours. In the capital, chanting crowds headed to Lisbon city centre, where celebrations were in full swing.

‘‘It’s going to be crazy tonight. People will lose their heads. I don’t think there will be many people at work tomorrow’’, said Joao Fragoso, a technician. (Reuters)