Portugal ready to slay the Dutch: Deco

Alcochete:

Portugal's midfield dynamo Deco insisted today that the hosts were convinced they had what it takes to shoot down the Netherlands and reach the final of Euro 2004. The two countries will face off in Wednesday's semi-final in Lisbon with the Dutch chasing a second title after 1988 and the Portuguese looking to break their hoodoo after semi-final defeats in 1984 and 2000, both at the hands of France. "We are totally fired up for getting to the final," said Deco, who is nicknamed 'Super Deco' by the fans of Champions League winners FC Porto. a€œClearly the teams which are left in the semi-finals are the best teams and it will be very tough against the Dutch. We are conscious of the fact that the Portuguese fans are expecting ever more of us as well. But I believe in my team. I think Portugal is better than the Dutch overall,a€ he said. Brazilian-born Deco won the Champions League and Portuguese league title in May with FC Porto and the 26-year-old has been one of the stars of the national side coached by compatriot Luiz Felipe Scolari. Skipper Luis Figo, who was furious to be hauled off by Scolari in the quarter-final win over England, has been at loggerheads with Deco over the latter's inclusion in the side, saying that he does not regard a player who was only naturalised 16 months ago as a 'proper' Portuguese. (AP)