Chapter 26
England created the best opportunities and Portugal started nervously, Nobby Stiles closely marking Eusébio, denying him every chance he could to display his talent.
After 30 minutes, a long ball from England's left wing caught Roger Hunt near the edge of the penalty area. His deft touch ran it past the last defender and he chased it as the Portuguese keeper, Pereira, came hurtling out to deny him. Unfortunately, in doing so, the ball ricocheted off his legs straight into the path of a waiting Bobby Charlton who side-footed it into the net. Gally spilt his beer down himself. One-nil. Fourteen minutes to go until half-time.
As far as he could make out the Portuguese strategy appeared to be to try to get high balls onto the head of Torres, the man they called the 'tower', but England had their own in the shape of Jack Charlton, ably assisted by stalwart and captain, Bobby Moore. It was during one of these episodes that the ball fell to Eusébio whose beautiful first-time strike conjured a fine save from the English keeper, Banks, unbeaten in the tournament so far.
The Portuguese were a dangerous team. Three days before, they'd come back from a three-goal deficit to North Korea to claim a 5-3 victory and everyone knew their potential was enormous.
After the interval, Gally could only wonder what the Portuguese manager had said while they were sucking their oranges because it seemed a different team was now on the pitch. Although the tactics appeared to be largely the same, long and high balls up to Torres to knock down, they now had much more energy and purpose.
Simões's successful run down the right side produced a pass, looking for Eusébio, which hit the hand of Stiles. The Portuguese claimed a penalty, but the French referee wasn't having it and waved their protests away. And still, they came back.
Fifteen minutes remaining and there were signs of fatigue but the pace didn't waiver. England cleared a long pass up-field to Hurst, who managed to shrug off the defender before laying the ball neatly to Bobby Charlton to rocket home his second and make it 2-0. Portugal’s keeper didn't stand a chance.
Two minutes later, the strategy works. The high ball to Torres hits the mark and his header beats Banks for a certain goal. Certain that is until Jack Charlton's reflex handling knocks it away and the penalty is awarded. Eusébio, the tournament top scorer and acknowledged gentleman of the game steps up, sends Banks the wrong way and the ball hits the back of the net. Gallagher can't help but admire him for the gesture that followed. There's still time but Eusébio picked the ball from the goal and instead of sprinting to the centre spot he delays and places a hand on Bank's face as if to say 'hard luck' or maybe 'sorry' for breaking his unbeaten record.
Finally, the whistle and it's done. England celebrates and Gally sat there almost exhausted. For a man who had not been completely connected to the game, he was now doing a reasonable impression of a time-served fan.