Portugal ready to go

Portugal 4-1 Lithuania
Pre-UEFA EURO 2004™ euphoria in Portgual was raised to fever pitch with a comfortable win for the tournament hosts in their last warm-up friendly in Setúbal.

Friendly win
In their 21st friendly international since the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Portugal triumphed for the eleventh time - having only lost three of those games - with goals from Fernando Couto, Pauleta, Nuno Gomes and Hélder Postiga.

Fine opening
Hoping for victory seven days before playing the EURO 2004™ opening match against Greece in Porto, Portugal were ahead within three minutes as Couto headed in Luís Figo's corner. Nine minutes later, Pauleta lobbed Lithuanian goalkeeper Gintaras Stauce to double the lead.

Tactical changes
Portugal did not add to the score before the break, but Figo and Simão Sabrosa were running the game from the flanks and Costinha was dominant in midfield. At the break Luiz Felipe Scolari switched from 4-5-1 to 4-4-2 and during the half made ten substitutions.

Late goals
Donatas Vencevicius pulled one back from the penalty spot on 72 minutes, but late on Nuno Gomes shot in and Hélder Postiga made it 4-1 with his header from Miguel's cross.

Scolari 'pleased'
Scolari said of his 4-4-2 experiment: "There were some difficulties for the strikers. We are practising this as an alternative game plan and is natural that it does not work 100 per cent effectively yet. I am pleased with the response of some substitutes and already planning the changes against Greece."

'Patriotic people'
Figo added: "The Portuguese are a patriotic people and I am thankful for their support in our friendlies. I expect the same thing next Saturday!"