Success turns sour

PORTUGUESE CAMP:CLUB-VERSUS-country battles are not supposed to spill into June. As Portugal chase the first major trophy of their history, they find themselves bobbing and weaving in the face of blows from the most powerful clubs on the continent.

Not only must Cristiano Ronaldo put to one side thoughts of the fight for his services between his employers, Manchester United, and his suitors, Real Madrid, but Luiz Felipe Scolari, the manager, must prove his focus, and that of his squad, has not been affected by Chelsea's announcement on Wednesday night he had agreed to take charge at Stamford Bridge once the finals were over.

Portuguese officials have insisted they were aware of Chelsea's intention to release the statement about Scolari's appointment. The impression, though, was of an organisation under siege and frantically trying to bolt the door after the real truths had escaped. It has been reported in the Portuguese press the players felt let down by Scolari, who had promised on the eve of the tournament he would not make public his plans for his future during it.

The upbeat mood after the victory over the Czechs, in which Portugal had set out their credentials as serious contenders for the championship, quickly turned to alarm and anger at the story's potential to upset the team and the dreams of a nation. Ricardo Carvalho, Chelsea's central defender, said the squad were "all shocked by the news". Scolari explained himself to his players on Thursday with tears welling in his eyes as he outlined why he was leaving. His contract expires at the end of this championship and he has long harboured the ambition to test himself in England.

Unanswered questions, though, remain about the timing of the Chelsea statement and there was fury among the Portuguese media yesterday when their attempts to seek clarification from two of the players, goalkeeper Ricardo and central defender Fernando Meira, were unceremoniously blocked by Onofre Costa, the press officer. Guardian Service