Raucous celebrations erupted in Portugal on Sunday after the country beat the Netherlands 1-0 to reach the last eight of the World Cup.

Portugal fans celebrate the team's second round World Cup 2006 soccer match victory over the Netherlands at the Marques Pombal square in central Lisbon June 25, 2006.[Reuters]

Thousands of fans and drivers hooting their horns blocked Lisbon's main avenue as fans celebrated a dramatic win in which both teams had two men sent off, a record for the finals.

"I was a bit nervous after the expulsion of Costinha," said Manuel da Costa, who had wrapped himself in the Portuguese flag as he celebrated along Avenida da Liberdade in central Lisbon.

"Now we will see, but I am full of faith that we will be champions for the first time."

The side has already reached Brazilian-born coach Luis Felipe Scolari's ambition of taking the side to the last eight in the World Cup. It is already Portugal's best World Cup since they finished third in 1966.

At a prison about 40 km (25 miles) from Lisbon, inmates were glued to their television set in the dining room during the match. Portuguese flags were draped along the cells and corridors of the prison.

"Portugal has the team to knock England out in the quarter- finals," said Musta Vieira, who is six months from completing his six-year jail sentence. "From then on we'll see, it's a game of luck. We have the team to get to the final."

Portugal play England in the quarter-final in the German town of Gelsenkirchen next Saturday.