Missing out on the 1990 World Cup was a disappointment for Portugal's international team and in the autumn of that year they started to build towards the next European Championships. A very credible draw against the new World Champions West Germany suggested promise and excitement levels rose after a fine performance in their first Euro qualifier brought a single-goal winner against a powerful Dutch side. Established centre-forward Rui Águas made the difference in both games, opening the scoring against the West Germans and netting a second-half winner against the Netherlands.