PORTUGAL TODAY

Portugal's revenge over old rivals Spain

Forget the debt crisis engulfing Portugal and the rest of Euope. Forget preparations for the arrival in Lisbon tomorrow of President Obama for bilateral discussions and a meeting of NATO. The number one topic of conversation in the nation today is football and Portugal's 4-0 thrashing of world champions Spain last night.

Victory was all the sweeter for Portugal because they inflicted Spain's biggest defeat in 47 years. Spain had not suffered such humiliation since they were beaten 6-2 by Scotland back in 1963.

The game in Lisbon's Estadio da Luz provided Portugal with an element of revenge because it was Spain who put them out of last year's world cup.

For all the long-standing rivalry between the Iberian neighbours on and off the pitch, one of the aims of last night's friendly was to promote their joint bid to host the World Cup in 2018.

ALGARVE HOTLINE

Highway robbery

Several people have recently reported falling victim to thieves posing as travelling visitors in need of help to find their way.

The modus operandi has variations but it goes something like this. The thieves spot a woman placing her handbag in her car parked outside a supermarket.

A couple approach the woman and distract her before she gets into the car, or entice her out of it, by asking for directions to the A2 motorway, Spain or some other destination.

The couple produce a map and fully engage the woman's attention on details. Thus distracted, the women does not notice another member of the gang nicking her handbag.

By the time the woman gets into her car to drive off, the thieves have disappeared.

One woman recently fell into the trap outside the Aldi supermarket at Armação de Pera. She lost her passport, credit cards, mobile phone and all her remaining holiday cash the day before her flight home to London.

After she had her mobile blocked, the itemised bill from the phone company in England showed that the last six calls made were to Romania, four of them to the same number. She informed the Armação police.