Portugal coach Antonio Oliveira praised his side's attitude after their 4-0 destruction of Poland.
Striker Pauleta scored a hat-trick as Portugal overcame the disappointment of their 3-2 defeat by USA in their opening match of the World Cup.
Oliveira said: "It was a good win and the players gave their all for their country.
"It was a well-fought game and we got the result we deserved.
"Everything is still open but we do have our first three points. The big difference was that we played as a team.
"With this type of attitude, the collective not the individual approach, it's easier to get the victories that the Portuguese have been used to in the past 11 years."
Pauleta's three-goal haul was the second of the tournament and places him one strike behind Germany's Miroslav Klose in the race for the golden boot.
"I am very happy, happy for those who trusted in me," the 29-year-old Girondins Bordeaux striker said.
"It was a good performance by me."
Pauleta, the first Portuguese player to score a World Cup hat-trick since Eusebio in 1966, was one of many who under-performed in the opening game and was happy to set the record straight.
"The first game went badly for me. This time it was a team effort," he said.
Portugal now need a win in their final group game against South Korea to ensure their passage to the second round.
"We have to have faith in what will be a decisive game," Oliveira said.
"South Korea can create a lot of problems for us, especially from a physical point of view.
"They are quick and well-prepared. We will do everything possible to obtain three points. Victory is not only possible but vital."
South Korea and the USA have four points in Group D, Portugal have three points and Poland, who are out of the tournament, have none.