DEN: Brian Laudrup (22).

POR: Ricardo Sa Pinto (53).

DEN: SCHMEICHEL 7; Helveg 5, Rieper 5, Hoch 5, Risager 4; Steen Nielsen 6, Thomsen 6 (Piechnik, 82), Michael Laudrup 6, Larsen 6 (Wilfort, 87); Beck 4, Brian Laudrup 6.

POR: Baia 5; Couto 6, Dimas 5, Helder 6, P. Santos 6; Oceano 4 (Polha, 36 - 7), Rui Costa 7, Sousa 6 (Tavares, 78), Figo 5 (Domingos, 63); Joao Pinto 6, Sa Pinto 6.

REFEREE: Dick van der Ende (Holland).

AUDIENCE: 34.993, Sheffield.

YELLOW CARDS: Helveg, Risager (Denmark); Oceano, Sa Pinto, Sousa, Joao Pinto (Portugal).

RED CARDS: NONE.

2:1 to Portugal - that was my prediction. After 92 minutes of play, I felt I would guess it right; and then I seized my head in disbelief... Peter Schmeichel, arguably the best on the pitch, slipped the high ball to the substitute Tavares, and the latter had an empty net before him; however, his volley shot in a turn missed the frame. It ended 1:1, disappointing the squad of Portugal which deserved to win.

Despite just the 2 goals scored and the almost traditional 1:1 draw achieved, it was the best game of EC'96 by now (maybe as I haven't seen full-timed the skill of Germany). Denmark surprised me quite for good, but the story was, no doubt, the rivals. Yesterday Portugal captured my heart with their play, and I believe many neutral spectators in the world would show here a certain solidarity with me. Its football is attractive, and its players, mostly Rui Costa and Antonio Folha, are definitely something to watch. If it wasn't for the miss of Tavares and most of all for the great skill of Schmeichel in all the other cases, the result could've become humiliating for the defending Champions.

Surprising as it might seem in the light of all this, those were the Danes who opened the score. Vitor Baia, one of the best keepers of this tournament as predicted before its start, made a crucial mistake, as the ball he tried to clear away by foot hit the head of Michael Beck and deflected to the quick Brian Laudrup. The latter rushed into the box, misled his defender and shot from 12 meters diagonally under the bar, the ball no keeper in the world could stop. 22 minutes of play, and a surprising 1:0 to Denmark.

Portugal pressed the Danes even before the goal, but now it became a siege. Schmeichel reacted coolly to a dangerous curved free kick of Joao Pinto (29). Another minute has passed, and the keeper reached his peak - Rui Costa sent Joao Pinto into the box, the latter misled charmingly two defenders and shot, but Schmeichel rushed bravely into the forward's legs to clear the ball away.

Sa Pinto missed the frame (36), and Rui Costa's shot flew near the right post of Schmeichel (42). And still, Portugal managed to equalize, after the break. Polha penetrated at the left wing and sent the ball to Sa Pinto; the ball hit the ground, and Sa Pinto jumped forward to head it back to the ground and in. Schmeichel could do nothing. 1:1.

Portugal could've scored (68), but Rui Costa couldn't beat Schmeichel in one-to-one. On the other hand, the wonderful double pass between Laudrup brothers created a great opportunity missed by Brian, and later on, Baia parried the dangerous ball of the same Brian. The last word was, as I've said before, of Schmeichel and Tavares.

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