SUWON (South Korea), June 4: Portugal, one of Europe’s most talented sides, are itching to begin their first World Cup campaign for 16 years against the United States Wednesday.

Supporters back home will accept nothing less than Portugal making the second round and the players are confident.

“Everybody sets out to win — the France-Senegal game proved that — so we want to win. Winning three points to start with is very important,” said playmaker Rui Costa.

But Portugal, orchestrated by World Player of the Year Luis Figo, have had plenty of time to reflect on how world champions France came unstuck against Senegal Friday.

“We know we are favourites, but we have to prove it on the field. The US are a good team, they have some very good players (based) in Europe. To beat them, we will have to work and run more than them,” striker Nuno Gomes said.

Coach Antonio Oliveira will probably keep the 4-1-3-2 formation that Portugal used to top its qualifying group with Joao Pinto and Pauleta up front.

At the back, Nuno Frechaut is likely to step in for defender Abel Xavier, who has a torn thigh muscle, and midfielder Paulo Sousa is also likely to miss the game with a thigh injury.

Playmaker Rui Costa is fully fit after an injury-plagued season as is Figo, who looked jaded last month after a long season with Champions League winners Real Madrid.

As Figo and Rui Costa are both around the 30-mark, along with Xavier and defender Fernando Couto — who were world youth champions in 1989 and 1991 — these finals are their last realistic chance to shine in the game’s most prestigious tournament.

US coach Bruce Arena also took heart from Senegal’s shock win, and stressed that his side were determined to improve on their showing in the 1998 World Cup, where they lost all three qualifying games and had the worst record of the 32 teams.

Although outsiders, the US side are no longer as tactically naive as they were in the early 1990s.

“It (France-Senegal) is not the first upset we will see. It demonstrates anyone can win, and we are not here to play three games and go home,” said Arena.

“They (Portugal) are an outstanding team and have great attacking players, and it is going to be a very difficult game. We believe we will be prepared mentally and physically to win the game.”—Reuters