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Johannesburg - Ever since Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast were drawn together in this year's Group of Death, one assumption has remained unchallenged: Brazil would win the group.
Not any more.
SLIDESHOW: Day 11 action
Portugal's 7-0 Monday thumping of North Korea - the final Group G side - was impressive in its own right. But it was doubly so when compared to how Brazil huffed and puffed against the same team.
While Brazil had to endure a nervous last few minutes against the tiny communist nation in their opening game, emerging with a 2-1 victory, Portugal put on a scintillating show.
The goals, scored by six different players, ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous.
VIDEO: Ronaldo - fluke or genius?
The outstanding Tiago's gorgeous through-ball and Raul Meireles' emphatic finish for the first goal was the sublime. Cristiano Ronaldo's 87th minute goal, when the ball ricocheted off the captain's back and heavily gelled hairdo to land at his feet for a tap-in, was the ridiculous.
It was Portugal's biggest-ever win the World Cup, but the real significance lies in the confidence the Europeans will take into their match with the Selecao.
Atletico Madrid's Tiago, to whom official Man of the Match Ronaldo chummily handed over his bauble, says Portugal now have eyes only for the Brazilians.
"We played good football, we're happy for that as much as for scoring a lot of goals," he said after the game in Cape Town's stadium.
"Now we start to think about playing Brazil and looking to finish first in the group."
There is absolutely no reason why the Portuguese cannot take out Brazil - particularly given Ronaldo has finally broken an international scoring duck that stretched back to February 2009, and could now begin banging them in.
Many commentators seem to have been blinded by Brazil's bright yellow jerseys when lavishing praise on the South Americans.
While Brazil are undoubtedly strong, they are not in the same class as sides of yore, as their spotty performances in the World Cup so far have shown.
Even Argentina boss Diego Maradona felt obliged to point out Brazil were not hitting the heights.
"I like Brazil even though they are not playing well and even if they have to use their arms to score," the man responsible for the most famous handball in World Cup history said cheekily in reference to Luis Fabiano's second against the Ivory Coast in a 3-1 victory.
Portugal boss Carlos Queiroz is targeting a third successive clean sheet in a game he says puts his team's "reputation and prestige" on the line.
But he knows his men will need to be at the height of their powers.
"The game we played today will not help us overcome Brazil, we will have to muster up the same kind of performance," Queiroz said.
Should Portugal produce the victory they so desire, they will no doubt find themselves among the favourites.
Not any more.
SLIDESHOW: Day 11 action
Portugal's 7-0 Monday thumping of North Korea - the final Group G side - was impressive in its own right. But it was doubly so when compared to how Brazil huffed and puffed against the same team.
While Brazil had to endure a nervous last few minutes against the tiny communist nation in their opening game, emerging with a 2-1 victory, Portugal put on a scintillating show.
The goals, scored by six different players, ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous.
VIDEO: Ronaldo - fluke or genius?
The outstanding Tiago's gorgeous through-ball and Raul Meireles' emphatic finish for the first goal was the sublime. Cristiano Ronaldo's 87th minute goal, when the ball ricocheted off the captain's back and heavily gelled hairdo to land at his feet for a tap-in, was the ridiculous.
It was Portugal's biggest-ever win the World Cup, but the real significance lies in the confidence the Europeans will take into their match with the Selecao.
Atletico Madrid's Tiago, to whom official Man of the Match Ronaldo chummily handed over his bauble, says Portugal now have eyes only for the Brazilians.
"We played good football, we're happy for that as much as for scoring a lot of goals," he said after the game in Cape Town's stadium.
"Now we start to think about playing Brazil and looking to finish first in the group."
There is absolutely no reason why the Portuguese cannot take out Brazil - particularly given Ronaldo has finally broken an international scoring duck that stretched back to February 2009, and could now begin banging them in.
Many commentators seem to have been blinded by Brazil's bright yellow jerseys when lavishing praise on the South Americans.
While Brazil are undoubtedly strong, they are not in the same class as sides of yore, as their spotty performances in the World Cup so far have shown.
Even Argentina boss Diego Maradona felt obliged to point out Brazil were not hitting the heights.
"I like Brazil even though they are not playing well and even if they have to use their arms to score," the man responsible for the most famous handball in World Cup history said cheekily in reference to Luis Fabiano's second against the Ivory Coast in a 3-1 victory.
Portugal boss Carlos Queiroz is targeting a third successive clean sheet in a game he says puts his team's "reputation and prestige" on the line.
But he knows his men will need to be at the height of their powers.
"The game we played today will not help us overcome Brazil, we will have to muster up the same kind of performance," Queiroz said.
Should Portugal produce the victory they so desire, they will no doubt find themselves among the favourites.
