Portugal's passion in short supply

Adrian Warner|Evening Standard|In Lisbon

14 April 2012

Portugal's lack of enthusiasm for Euro 2004 was exposed today when it emerged that tomorrow's opening game between the hosts and Greece is not a sellout.

Portuguese Football Federation chiefs admitted that tickets were still available for the group A clash at Porto's 52,000-capacity Dragon Stadium.

The Portuguese public has given a lukewarm reaction to the tournament. A recent poll revealed that half of the population believe the event is not worth the £400million that has been spent on revamping 10 stadiums in eight cities, especially since Portugal has economic woes.

It was not clear how many tickets were still on the market but they were in three price brackets ranging from around £30 to £100. It is very unusual for a match involving the hosts not to be sold out at a major finals, especially since Porto is a football-mad city.

Portuguese football chiefs and UEFA officials were expected to face fierce questions at a news conference later today about why all the tickets have not been snapped up.

A lack of enthusiasm for the tournament is one charge that can't be levelled at England. The flags on car windows and in shops and pubs up and down the country are evidence of a spontaneous excitement that is certainly missing among the hosts.

The lack of visible passion among the locals is striking just 24 hours before the tournament starts.

Apart from flags put up by the local authority, sponsors and organisers in Lisbon's central squares, there are few signs of football fever taking grip. Their scepticism is particularly surprising since the tournament's emblem is a heart drawn around a football which is supposed to indicate passion about the game.

The opening line of the official tournament song, Forca, talks about "passion flowing right on through your veins". The problem is that many Portuguese are more worried about the euros flowing out of their pockets`.

Portugal's economy has struggled since 1999 when it was awarded the event during a boom period. Last year the nation of 10m people had the worstperforming economy in the European Union and the government is struggling with its budget.

The state is paying a quarter of the costs of the tournament and providing interest rate subsidies for clubs and cities. Some locals believe the money would be better spent on hospitals and education.

The threat of terrorism - particularly after the Madrid train massacre over the border - has also worried the Portuguese and cast a shadow over the tournament.

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Portugal's passion in short supply

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