Scolari aims to upset Brazil

LISBON: Luiz Felipe Scolari built Brazil into a football team that conquered the world. But today the Brazilian will try to turn the tables on his country as coach of Portugal, who are  eager to erase the memories of their miserable World Cup performance when they went home after the first round.

Brazilian star Ronaldo ackowledges that Scolari is Portugal’s trump card for the friendly match at the Antas Stadium in Porto as the Portuguese seek their first win against Brazil in 37 years. “It’s not going to be easy for Brazil,” Ronaldo said. “Scolari knows us well.” And, as usual, the pressure to perform is on the Brazilians whose roster includes 18 players from European clubs. “In Brazil they’ve already forgotten the great victory that grabbed our fifth world title. But that’s football. Our team’s under pressure to perform every time we go out onto the pitch,” Ronaldo said.

Scolari quit Brazil after last year’s World Cup success and joined talented but underachieving Portugal. His mission is to capture the European Championship title in 2004, a tournament for which Portugal automatically qualifies as host. This is only Scolari’s second match in charge, after a humdrum 1-0 defeat against Italy, and the squad is still in a phase of renewal and experimentation.

Scolari courted controversy by selecting Brazilian-born midfielder Deco, who recently took Portuguese nationality. “It’s a new experience, unlike anything before for me,” said the FC Porto midfielder who has spent most of his career in Portugal. “I haven’t stopped being Brazilian, but only I know how much Portugal means to me.” Widely regarded as the best player in the Portuguese Championship but overlooked by his national team, Deco is another secret weapon against the Brazilians. “He’s a fantastic player, he’s proved that,” Benfica striker Nuno Gomes said of Deco. “He’ll be another trump card for us.” Scolari is expected to scrap the three-man defence which was shaky against Italy.

During training over the past week, he tested a midfield set-up which looks formidable: Deco lining up alongside Real Madrid’s Luis Figo, AC Milan’s Rui Costa and Internazionale’s Sergio Conceicao. Scolari’s also called up two rookies — Nuno Ribeiro Maniche of FC Porto and Leiria’s Jorge Fernandes Silas. Portugal are looking for their 100th home win but go into the match as the firm underdogs.The last time they beat Brazil was at the 1966 World Cup when Eusebio scored twice against Pele’s team. Brazil have won 12 of the 16 meetings between the two countries, compared with two victories for Portugal. The goal tally is also 34-9 in Brazil’s favour.