Scolari refuses to take the bait

EURO 2004/ Portugal v the Netherlands: Portugal are in the home stretch and the winning post is tantalisingly close but the dangers of exorbitant national expectations, tiredness and, not least, tonight's semi-final opponents, The Netherlands, stand between them and an appointment with history. Or at least, that is how team coach Felipe Scolari and star player Luis Figo see it. Paddy Agnew  reports from Lisbon

Speaking to the press yesterday Scolari opened his news conference with what amounted to an appeal for calm, saying: "I would like to appeal to the Portuguese people and to the Portuguese press to remember that we haven't won anything yet. We have got to keep our cool. We have to win tomorrow night's semi-final with Holland in order to get to the final and therefore we have to focus exclusively on Holland and not be thinking about the final."

After making a ritual, if hardly necessary appeal to the Portuguese public to "wear something red or green" to the match, Scolari then settled into an analysis of tonight's game. Statistics, he claimed, would suggest there is little between the two teams, adding: "We don't have any superiority. Holland is a strong team, technically and tactically. But, two teams will be playing in the semi-final and only one can win. I like my team and that is why I say my team will win."

Even if it is almost heretical to mention the thought, there were those churlish figures who wanted to know if Scolari would consider elimination against Holland a "failure" as regards his handling of the team: "No. The big promise that I made to the Portuguese people was that I would get the side to the semi-finals. My players have fulfilled that promise. Now, there are four good teams in the semi-finals and it simply makes no sense to talk of 'failure' if we go out."

The churlish hacks, especially the non-Portuguese ones, tried to upset the Scolari equilibrium by asking him, yet again, about the substitution of national icon and team captain Luis Figo.

On the way to winning the World Cup with Brazil two years ago, Scolari soon discovered that he was no prophet in his own land. Hence, awkward questions about Portugal and Figo are mere water off a duck's back: "When I'm watching my side play, I'm not looking at individual players, I'm looking at the whole team, who is tired, who is injured, who is still fresh, etc. Therefore I make substitutions on the basis of what I see on the pitch."

Scolari did not say it but the meaning was clear. He makes his substitutions according to the requirements of the moment and not on the basis of the player's reputation.

Ironically, Figo himself had preceded Scolari at yesterday's press conference. Sure enough, he too was asked about that controversial substitution: "For me a day is 24 hours long. We won against England and so I'm very happy. It was hard not to be on the pitch, but it was great to get to the semi-finals." Did he feel that the substitution left with him something to prove tonight?

"I don't have to prove nothing to anyone. The Portuguese people know me well, I just have to play well. We're all tired but the motivation that comes from a chance of reaching the final overcomes all tiredness."

In the end, Figo wrapped up the proceedings with an eve-of-battle cry that bodes ill for opponents Holland: "One of the most important aims of my career is to win this tournament for my country. We've never got to a major final, always stopping at the semi-final stage. It is a great honour and privilege to play for Portugal at this moment."

You get the feeling that this is one opportunity that Figo, Scolari and friends are not going to let slip away.