Portugal progress as EURO' 96 Group D winners following Croatia success
Monday, October 6, 2003
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Croatia 0-3 Portugal
Both sides progressed to the quarter-finals but Portugal did so as Group D winners.
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Portugal cruised into the quarter-finals with a comfortable 3-0 win against already-qualified Croatia.
Miroslav Blaževic's team had won their first two fixtures to reach the last eight with room to spare and therefore fielded a much-changed side. Though that decision eased their opponents' task, Portugal more than played a part by applying some clever finishing to their intricate build-up play for the first time in the tournament. Luís Figo was first to find the target after just four minutes, with João Pinto adding a second on 33 minutes and Domingos completing the scoring late on.
Figo was in instrumental form from the off, neatly side-footing in Secretário's excellent right-wing cross to ease the early pressure on his side. The Barcelona winger was also involved in Portugal's second; Fernando Couto headed back his corner and Sá Pinto's attempted overhead kick fell to Pinto, who showed admirable composure to beat Marijan Mrmić from seven metres.
Though the second-half arrival of the likes of Davor Šuker bolstered Croatia, they still conceded a lax third with eight minutes left when Domingos steered in a low shot following a defensive mix-up involving Dubravko Pavličić and Igor Štimac. Croatia had surrendered top spot in Group D and would now find themselves up against Germany in the last eight, with Portugal pitted against the Czech Republic.
Lineups
Croatia: Mrmić; Jarni (c), Soldo, Bilić, Pavličić, Šimić; Jurčević, Prosinečki (Boban 46), Mladenović (Asanović 46); Vlaović, Pamić (Šuker 46)
Substitutes: Ladić, Štimac, Stanić, Brajković, Cvitanović
Coach: Miroslav Blažević
Portugal: Vítor Baía (c); Dimas, Hélder, Fernando Couto, Secretário; Luís Figo, Oceano, Rui Costa (Pedro Barbosa 61), Paulo Sousa (José Tavares 70); João Pinto, Sá Pinto (Domingos 46)
Substitutes: Vítor Paneira, Cadete, Alfredo, Porfírio, Folha, Paulo Madeira, Rui Correia
Coach: António Oliveira
Referee: Sándor Puhl (Hungary)
Man of the Match: João Pinto (Portugal)