© JumpStory
Ask any Spaniard which national team they fear the most, and the country mentioned most often will be France, Italy, or maybe Germany. Portugal is unlikely to be mentioned. Unlike the rivalries between England and Germany or Germany and the Netherlands, there is no "common sports history" between these two countries. Now, for the first time in 20 years, Spain and Portugal's match could be billed as the Iberian derby. If the Russian team, already out of the medal race, doesn't provide a surprise by beating the Greek team, the Sunday matches in Group A will be a fight for survival in Euro 2004. Although Portugal has been Spain's most frequent opponent in international competitions, the only time these teams met in a major tournament was in the 1984 European Championship. The 1-1 draw allowed both teams to advance to the semi-finals. Historically, these two nations have vied for global dominance. In the 15th century, they partitioned the known world with a famous cartographic agreement known as the Treaty of Tordesillas. After centuries, many Spaniards hold a condescending view of the Portuguese, considering them inferior. When Portugal won the right to host the Euro 2004 tournament - a bid that Spain also sought - the Spanish press openly questioned their neighbors' ability to organize such a prestigious event. Despite their outward show of confidence, many Spaniards are quite uneasy before the upcoming match. The sports newspaper "AS" expressed more concern about Anders Frisk's refereeing ability than analyzing the advantages of the Spanish and Portuguese teams. "They have already scored against us," read the headline next to a photo of the Swedish referee. "He (Frisk) often yields to home team pressure." The newspaper reminded its readers that Frisk awarded a penalty for Fernando Hierro's alleged foul during the 2002 World Cup match against Ireland. The rival newspaper "Marca" decided to look at the history of matches between the teams, emphasizing that Spain has only lost four out of 32 games and has not lost to them for 23 years. The last meeting between the teams last September ended in a 3-0 victory for Spain. Spain only needs a draw in these matches. A defeat would begin a more intense era of competition between the two neighbors.
