ERMELO (Reuters) - So far, so good for Portugal - the side with a tendency for collective suicide in major tournaments is for once living up to the sky-high expectations of the fans back home.

Through safely to the Euro 2000 semifinals after a convincing win against Turkey in Amsterdam on Saturday, the biggest dilemma for coach Humberto Coelho is who to pick for Wednesday's match with France.

The problem is his and his alone. For while the players are all desperate to be in the side, all of them appear happy to abide by the coach's decision.

'Of course, for the rest of us, we're training very hard because we all want to play,' Ricardo Sa Pinto, who came on for two-goal hero Nuno Gomes in Saturday's match, said after training in the drizzle on Sunday morning.

But no-one would be making waves if they were left out. 'Team spirit is the key to our success. We don't want to spoil it. It's important that we're always ready in case we're asked to play,' said midfielder Jose Vidigal.

Defender Abel Xavier, striking in his bleached blonde afro haircut and beard, is another player hoping to muscle in on the starting line-up.

'I was feeling fine and I thought I was going to play (on Saturday), but after the reserve side did so well against Germany the coach had many, many options and you must respect that,' Abel Xavier said.

'The most important thing is that we are delighted to be in this position. I'm happy for the players and, of course, for my country.'

Portugal, having qualified for the tournament as best runner-up from the nine groups, believe the time is right to beat their country's previous European tournament record -- the semifinals in 1984.

If Luis Figo and Rui Costa maintain their fluid passing in midfield and provide chances for promising young striker Nuno Gomes while the team continue to defend solidly at the back, then it could certainly be Portugal's year.

'We believe we can do something good. We've broken some of the logic in football because in the media no-one said we could get very far.

'Maybe the surroundings now will change a little but we must stay the same. We must keep going and you never know where we can go,' Abel Xavier said.

'All the way? We have to take things game by game. But in football, when you believe, anything is possible. When the team is motivated -- like we are now -- you can overcome all sorts of difficulties, and we'll have a lot of difficulties in the next game for sure.'

The semifinal against world champions France in Brussels on Wednesday has all the ingredients for a thrilling match. 'France - everyone knows about them - they're always a top side,' said Abel Xavier.

The wacky haircut, he said, may be bringing the side some extra luck.

'Maybe it's a little talisman for the team. It was a personal thing but also to give a good atmosphere in the dressing room. If we continue to play this way I'm not going to dye it black again... But if we win the semifinal, maybe there'll be a surprise haircut in the final - we'll see.'