THE Portuguese are not a nation normally associated with sporadic outpourings of joy. Singing in the street is not unknown - but the singing is in the style of fado, the melancholic and nostalgic folk music that Portugal has made its own.

Literally meaning "fate", fado emerged from Lisbon's docks in the 19th-century as the city's sailors lamented their lost loves and dashed expectations.

Since then, the mournful roots music has addressed other painful moments in Portuguese history, from the lengthy military dictatorship of Antonio de Oliveira Salazar to the costly wars of independence that were fought in vain throughout Africa.

Lisbon's residents seek solace in fado during moments of pain, and so it was little wonder that the city's "tabernas" were full on the night of June 12.

A day that dawned with hope and expectation ended in bitterness and defeat.

For the first time, Portugal had been chosen to host European football's showpiece event. But, when the time came to bring the curtain down in style, the players fluffed their lines.

A tame 2-1 defeat to Greece knocked the stuffing out of a country desperate to embrace Euro 2004.

The banners started to come down, the flags fluttered limply, and the painted faces were quickly washed dry. More dashed expectations, more "fado".

But, while Portugal believes in fate, it's nearest cousin is more interested in destiny.

Portugal's first contact with Brazil came when navigator Pedro Cabral landed in South America in 1500 and, through more than three centuries of colonization, the two countries developed a symbiotic relationship.

But each maintained its own identity and, while the Portuguese developed fado, Brazil moved to the samba beat.

Samba developed out of a combination of musical traditions brought to Brazil by West African slaves and South American Indians. It speaks of joy and festivity, and extols the endless possibility of change.

Portugal's Brazilian coach Luis Felipe Scolari was raised in a society immersed in such music and, through innovation and revolution, he has taken his side to the brink of the greatest achievement in Portuguese sporting history.

Scolari wasn't interested in fate when Portugal started their campaign in the worst possible fashion.

He wasn't about to let events to run their course, not when he was still in control of his own team's destiny.

Out went Paulo Ferreira, Fernando Couto, Rui Jorge and Rui Costa from the team that collapsed against Greece - in came the previously unheralded Miguel, Ricardo Carvalho and Nuno Valente, and the inspirational but inconsistent Deco.

Making any alterations during a tournament is unusual - changing almost half a team is virtually unheard of - yet Scolari's actions proved crucial as Portugal brushed aside Russia and arch-rivals Spain to make the last eight.

Gradually, the bunch of disparate individuals that surrendered against Greece have started to look like a team.

Carvalho and Valente have proved inspirational in defence, while Deco has combined with Luis Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo to produce a midfield as exciting as any in the tournament.

But still there have been tests. Trailing 1-0 to England, Portugal looked to be going out of the competition again.

But, while Sven-Goran Eriksson kept blind faith with David Beckham, Scolari hauled his 'Galactico', Figo, off the pitch.

On came the much-maligned Helder Postiga and, in the space of a bullet header and an impudent penalty, the hosts were in the last four.

Wednesday night's defeat of Holland has taken them into the last two amid an outpouring of euphoria and a cacophony of car horns.

Lisbon has not slept for the last two nights but, if things go according to plan tomorrow, the best could be yet to come.

It is generally accepted that the hosts of any tournament enjoy a certain degree of advantage.

They play in their conditions in front of their fans - in many ways the competition is set up for them to win.

But, if Portugal succeed in tomorrow's final, it will not be a victory for fate.

On this occasion, "fado" has been found wanting, but Scolari's Brazilian beat has not.