PORTUGAL: PORTUGUESE PLAYER DECO SAYS EURO 2004 SEMI-FINAL OPPONENTS NETHERLANDS HAVE A GREAT TEAM

Record ID: 648512

  • Title: PORTUGAL: PORTUGUESE PLAYER DECO SAYS EURO 2004 SEMI-FINAL OPPONENTS NETHERLANDS HAVE A GREAT TEAM
  • Date: 30th June 2004
  • Summary: LISBON, PORTUGAL (JUNE 28, 2004) 1. NEWS CONFERENCE 2. (SOUNDBITE)(Portuguese) PORTUGAL STRIKER DECO SAYING: "What we know about Holland is what we saw during the previous game. I think they have a great team, they have good moments and bad moments. This is a team who play well or as they showed in the previous game not so good. I think for sure that they will be more concentrated and will do their best while playing us" 3. (SOUNDBITE)(Portguese) DECO SAYING: "I can tell you honestly I have been in Portugal for eight years and I was following the Portuguese team in 1998 and 2000 and I have never seen such support for the national team as we have now. We are getting great support and enthusiasm from supporters which is very important. Of course it doesn't help with the scoring, but it gives us twenty to thirty percent extra motivation" 4. (SOUNDBITE)(Portuguese) DECO SAYING: "This is a question of a team effort. We have good players and they do too. But I think we have a greater will to win and we will do" 5. PORTUGUESE PLAYERS TRAINING 6. COACH LUIS FELIPE SCOLARI 7. LUIS FIGO STRETCHING 8. GOALKEEPER AND PENALTY HERO RICARDO (WITH RED BOOTS) 9. PLAYERS TRAINING 3.26 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 15th July 2004 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LISBON, PORTUGAL
  • Country: Portugal
  • Reuters ID: LVA844PON25SHA80XPFL94RKGR2O
  • Story Text: Portuguese player Deco says Euro 2004 semi-final
    opponents Netherlands have great team.

    Portuguese striker Deco said on Monday (June 28, 2004)
    that Euro 2004 semi-final opponents the Netherlands have a
    great team, but Portugal is more motivated to win.

    Deco told a news conference in Lisbon: "What we know
    about Holland is what we saw during the previous game. I
    think they have a great team, they have good moments and
    bad moments. This is a team who play well or as they showed
    in the previous game not so good. I think for sure that
    they will be more concentrated and will do their best while
    playing us."
    The Brazilian-born player said support for Portugal was
    greater than he had ever known.

    "I can tell you honestly I have been in Portugal for
    eight years and I was following the Portuguese team in 1998
    and 2000 and I have never seen such support for the
    national team as we have now. We are getting great support
    and enthusiasm from supporters which is very important. Of
    course it doesn't help with the scoring, but it gives us 20
    to 30 percent extra motivation."
    Referring to motivation he told reporters: "This is a
    question of a team effort. We have good players and they do
    too. But I think we have a greater will to win and we will
    do."
    This has been a great year for Deco personaly. He
    inspired Porto's successful defence of their domestic title
    and drove the team on to victory in the Champions League,
    earning the 'man of the match' award in the 3-0 final
    victory over Monaco.

    His form over the past two seasons has brought offers
    from several of Europe's biggest clubs and a move at the
    end of the tournament, possibly to Barcelona, will make him
    an extremely wealthy man.

    But the decision by Portugal's Brazilian coach, Luis
    Felipe Scolari, to pick his former countryman ruffled a lot
    of feathers in Portugal, with Luis Figo in particular criticising
    the switch in allegiance.

    But Deco has justified his inclusion.

    Portugal play the Netherlands on Wednesday.


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