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Portugal press salutes team despite defeat
Portugal's press had words of praise and comfort for the national squad despite their loss to Greece in the Euro 2004 final.
Portugal's press had words of praise and comfort for the national squad despite their disappointing 1-0 loss to Greece in the Euro 2004 final on Sunday.
"Portugal is proud of you," said sports daily Record on its front page above a photo of teenage winger Cristiano Ronaldo as he wept alongside striker Pauleta and defender Jorge Andrade at the end of the match.
"How it hurts! But we are proud!" said rival A Bola, adding "it is always frustrating to loose a final at home but history will absolve you."
Portugal has reached the semi-finals of a major tournament three times — at the 1984 and 2000 European championships and the 1966 World Cup — but had never progressed beyond this stage until Euro 2004.
"There went the dream," said tabloid 24Horas above a photo of a distraught Ronaldo.
"Don't cry Ronaldo! The Greeks took home the title but we won everything else: we organized a fantastic championship, created a fabulous team and we have the best fans in the world. We're great!" it added on its front page.
"It was worth it," said daily Publico on its front page of the three-week tournament which Portugal, one of western Europe's poorest nations, spent millions to stage.
In addition to having come close to winning the championships, the paper said Portugal was also widely praised for its skills in organizing the event, which is expected to attract more tourists and investors to the country.
Inside the paper bitterly labelled the Greeks' victory a "triumph of parasite football".
Daily Correio da Manha was the only major paper to strike a critical tone against the team.
"The dream is over," it said on its front page above a photo of Portugal captain Luis Figo raising his hands to his head as the final whistle confirmed Portugal's loss.
"Portugal lost the European title to Greece which showed greater ambition and worthiness," it added.
"It is a shame the team did not play the final match with the will and determination which they showed during the last half hour, when they created some opportunities and forced Greece to backtrack," it said inside.
