HAVING EMERGED BLOODIED BUT unbowed from a round-of-16 tie brimming with hate, Portugal can look forward to an even greater grudge match against England. After getting the better of Sven-Göran Eriksson in the last two tournaments, Luiz Felipe Scolari will be confident of heaping further embarrassment on the FA in Gelsenkirchen on Saturday, but the absence of Deco and Costinha after red cards last night will give England reason to hope.

Cristiano Ronaldho is also be considered doubtful after limping off with a thigh injury in the first half, while Fifa could choose to take further disciplinary action against Luis Figo who escaped with a yellow card despite head-butting Mark van Bommel.

Portugal deserved to win because of a wonderful first-half goal from Maniche, the one moment of real quality in contest of unrelenting spite, as a city famous for military rallies produced the tournament’s first pitched battle. Any semblance of control from the referee was lacking by the end as Valentin Ivanov brandished 16 yellow cards and four reds, both World Cup records. The only thing both coaches agreed on as the arguments continued off the pitch was that Ivanov ruined the game, with Marco van Basten focusing on Portuguese gamesmanship.

“Portugal were more experienced than us and we saw all their tricks and time-wasting,” he said. “The Portuguese wasted so much and do not understand fair play. We weren’t able to play enough football. There was a foul or a referee’s whistle every minute.”

Scolari unsurprisingly saw it differently, praising the performance of his players and defending the conduct of his captain. “Figo was much more correct than the Dutch players,” he said. “Jesus Christ said that we should turn the other cheek, but Figo is not Jesus Christ. All I can think of today is this heroic victory.”

Given the tumultuous events on the pitch Van Basten’s decision to leave Ruud van Nistelrooy on the bench throughout, which may have ended his international career, barely registered. A stormy night began strangely quietly, with little to get excited about until Edwin van der Sar’s fluffed clearance in the twelfth minute, not the best way to mark a record-breaking 113th appearance for his country.

Portugal created nothing themselves but their 23rd-minute goal was worth waiting for. After a good run down the right, Ronaldo released Deco, whose cross was laid off by Pauleta into the path of Maniche. He skipped elegantly away from Joris Mathijsen and Andre Ooijer before curling the ball past Van der Sar, bringing back memories of the brilliant goal he scored in the Euro 2004 semi-final.

Ronaldo’s jinking run was his last significant contribution, failing to shake off the effects of an earlier kick on the thigh from Khalid Boulahrouz and being replaced by Simão ten minutes later. The Manchester United winger broke down in tears on the touchline but Portugal appeared unaffected. Simão gave them an opportunity to extend their lead just before half-time, his cross from the right helped on by Figo only for Van der Sar to make a smart save from Pauleta. Van Basten’s side received a further slice of luck moments later with the dismissal of Costinha, inexplicably handling the ball to receive his second booking.

Buoyed by the extra man, Holland began the second half with added purpose. Phillip Cocu struck the bar and Wesley Sneijder brought a smart save from Ricardo, but their numerical advantage did not last for long. As tempers rose, Boulahrouz was sent off for a second yellow card for elbowing Figo in the 63rd minute.

Boulahrouz was not the last man to be dismissed, with Giovanni van Bronckhorst shown a second yellow card at the death.

With both benches up in protest at every minor incident and whistles echoing around the bowl-shaped stadium, the atmosphere was more like bare-knuckle fight than a football match. Considering the history involved, Saturday’s match could be just as nasty.