Those Korean fans sporting Portugal shirts, dazed amid the celebratory drumbeat yesterday, were confused at the end as to whether they should be clapping or cursing. The riotous margin of this victory may have flattered the Portuguese but, as Luis Figo later stressed, "the momentum is with us now" - and most likely at South Korea's expense.
Antonio Oliveira's resurgent side, humiliated by the United States last week but eventually rampant here against the Poles, can poop the South Korean party by beating the co-hosts. That would guarantee their passage into the second phase and leave "Fighting Korea" down and out.
"It's not as if any of us are thinking about the next round yet," added Figo, whose own stodgy performance perked up as Poland sank in the torrential rain. "South Korea have plenty of qualities, a good coach and a decent mentality, and they'll have the fans behind them. But as far as we are concerned it's a good sign that we are finishing games stronger than we are starting them. We are building up form and strength, which bodes well."
There was enough here to suggest Portugal have recovered from their giddy defensive display in their opening match, not least because their formidable front line is functioning as a unit once more. Figo may still be below his best and Sergio Conceicao's arrogant strut is hardly justified by his form, but where frustration overwhelmed them last week, patience - and Pauleta - prevailed here.
Pauleta, the "Azores Cyclone", devastated cumbersome opponents in the steamy, sodden conditions to register his country's first World Cup hat-trick since Eusebio - watching here yesterday - dismantled the North Koreans in 1966. "I felt I'd done badly in the first game but it went well today," he stammered. "We had things to put right, but I'm almost speechless with joy."
Pauleta's first goal had gone some way to settling nerves even if it did not immediately spark the glut.
Nuno Frechaut gathered a lucky ricochet and found Joao Pinto, whose glorious diagonal pass was collected by the striker. Having already expertly peeled away from Tomasz Hajto, the 29-year-old turned inside the centre-half before belting a shot beyond Jerzy Dudek at his near post. The Liverpool goalkeeper, at fault for a goal in the defeat by South Korea, was left kicking himself again.
That had Oliviera, who broke his ankle falling down the stairs at the team hotel earlier in the day, waving his crutches in celebration, though his team then did their best to ruin his 50th birthday. Poland thrust three up front and at last Emmanuel Olisadebe hinted at his destructive form.
Not that they had much to show for it. Maciej Zurawski speared wide as he scurried into the area; Pawel Kryszalowicz's header four minutes later was ruled out for a push on Vitor Baia. "That knocked the stuffing out of us," moaned Jerzy Engel, whose job prospects are hardly rosy despite his achievement in taking Poland to the finals.
Within minutes, Olisadebe surrendered possession on the edge of Portugal's area and Conceicao, Armando Petit and Figo sauntered downfield exchanging passes before the Real Madrid midfielder crossed for Pauleta, edging in front of Marek Kozminski, to bundle in his second. Figo then struck a post, before Rui Costa's diagonal pass left Tomasz Waldoch isolated and Pauleta turned and tormented the defender before completing his hat-trick, shooting low and across Dudek.
Nuno Capucho's centre set up Rui Costa for the fourth but he and Pauleta later missed open goals as the Poles disintegrated. "We are getting stronger and stronger," said Abel Xavier, who will be fit to return against South Korea.
Guardian Service
SUBSTITUTES
PORTUGAL: Rui Costa for Joao Pinto (60 mins); Beto Severo for Nuno Frechaut (64 mins); Nuno Capucho for Sergio Conceicao (69 mins).
POLAND: Bak for Kaluzny (16 mins); Zewlakow for Zurawski (56 mins); Rzasa for Zewlakow (71 mins).
YELLOW CARDS: Portugal - Frechaut, Jorge Costa, Rui Jorgek. Poland - Swierczewski, Bak.
