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| Attacking Spring Back in Portugal's Step |
As the rain lashed down on the Portugal squad in Opalenica this morning, it failed to dampen spirits. While their team-mates went through a light session, Ricardo Quaresma and Nélson Oliveira broke away to try shooting at goal from the halfway line. The former found the net and the latter narrowly missed, prompting much laughter and jostling from Quaresma for the young SL Benfica forward.
Neither player is likely to start tomorrow's Warsaw quarter-final against the Czech Republic, but two things were evident from this short passage of frivolity. Firstly, Portugal are enjoying themselves at UEFA EURO 2012. Secondly, there is a permanent dedication to an attacking approach throughout the squad.
Many presumed this wasn't the case after the opening match with Germany, as Portugal were judged on a cautious mindset, allied to a dry spell in front of goal in pre-tournament friendlies. This ignored the fact that, until this mini-run of profligacy in 2012, the Selecção das Quinas had been on a rampage under Paulo Bento, finding the net 37 times in his first 13 matches in charge.
As the world at large focused on Cristiano Ronaldo's personal struggles in front of goal after the win over Denmark, that Portugal had scored three times and created a host more chances was reduced almost to a footnote. The captain hit all the right notes against the Netherlands in spectacular fashion, yet the team's intent in Kharkiv was just the same as it had been in the previous game in Lviv.
It is unlikely that there will be any let-up against Michal Bílek's Czech side. His right-back, Theodor Gebre Selassie, has been one of the stars of the tournament, getting forward with gusto throughout. However, just as the Netherlands' offensive approach left room for Ronaldo to attack, the space behind Gebre Selassie seems sure to invite a reprise from both the captain and Fábio Coentrão. Fireworks lie ahead in Warsaw.
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