Portugal's semi-final pedigree: Excitement guaranteed

1984: Portugal 2-3 France, aet (Domergue 24 114, Platini 119; Rui Jordão 74 98) 
One of the competition's all-time classics. It was pretty much one-way traffic after Jean-François Domergue thumped in the opener – until Rui Jordão headed in the equaliser that is. From then on it was thrilling end-to-end stuff in Marseille, with the pendulum swaying one way then the other. Jordão edged Portugal ahead and the siege began. Domergue made it 2-2, setting the stage for French skipper Michel Platini, creator of France's first two goals, to clip in his eighth of the finals. Pandemonium ensued.

2000: France 2-1 Portugal, aet (Henry 51, Zidane 117pen; Nuno Gomes 19)
Portugal broke the deadlock with their first effort on goal on 19 minutes but France rose to the challenge, finally fashioning an equaliser through Thierry Henry. Still, had Abel Xavier's added-time header been any further away from Fabien Barthez, it would have been Portugal, not Les Bleus in the final. Zinédine Zidane ensured otherwise with the shoot-out looming, converting from the spot to give France a golden-goal victory in Brussels after Xavier was adjudged to have handled a Sylvain Wiltord strike.

2004: Portugal 2-1 Netherlands (Ronaldo 26, Maniche 58; Jorge Andrade og 63) 
A blistering finish from Maniche stole the show in Lisbon where Portugal became the first EURO host nation in two decades to qualify for the final. Led by Luís Figo, inspired by Deco and anchored by a resolute defence that included Ricardo Carvalho, the Selecção had forged in front through the 19-year-old Ronaldo's header. Portugal only narrowly avoided disaster, though. First Jorge Andrade put through his own net, then Roy Makaay came within centimetres of bringing the Orange back to level terms.

2012: Portugal 0-0 Spain, Spain won 4-2 on pens
This was a familiar story of what might have been for the Portuguese. With a minute to go in the Iberian derby in Donetsk, Raul Meireles broke through the middle and there, unmarked to his left, was Ronaldo. The Portugal captain, uncharacteristically, sliced high and wide. A tense encounter duly went to extra time and penalties, where spot-kick misses from João Moutinho and Bruno Alves enabled Cesc Fàbregas to clinch victory for the title holders (and champions-elect).