http://www.uefa.com/magazine/news/kind=4/newsid=674531.html Scolari ready to go again Thursday 20 March 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ According to Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, Wednesday's friendly with Greece will have "mystical" qualities. The 2002 FIFA World Cup-winning coach has faced his Greek counterpart Otto Rehhagel three times and is yet to come out on top. The two sides have not met since Greece won the final of UEFA EURO 2004 in Lisbon and with UEFA EURO 2008 fast approaching, this is a chance for Portugal to put that defeat behind them. As Scolari tells uefa.com, the opportunity to pit his wits against Rehhagel again is also a challenge he is relishing. uefa.com: We are two months away from UEFA EURO 2008. What is the next stage in your preparations? Luiz Felipe Scolari: It will continue to be player observation. We want to know what stage they're at and how they're playing so we can use them properly according to what they are doing at their clubs. I hope they will all be 100 per cent fit for the tournament. uefa.com: Can we expect many surprises in your squad or is it pretty much settled in your mind? Scolari: There is room for some surprises because of injuries and other setbacks. We can have one or two surprises, that's normal. I've been doing that with the goalkeepers. I always try to think in the future and call up young talents. I will only unveil the team on the 12 May. From that moment, every player picked will be important for our results. We don't have many options for different positions. We have lots of quality but we just don't have the same range of choice like Brazil, Argentina, Italy, France, Spain or Germany. uefa.com: Do you think the supporters high expectations after reaching a final and a semi-final in the last two big competitions could make life difficult for you? Scolari: We are not the best in the world simply because we finished second in 2004 and fourth in the 2006 World Cup. We were very good in those two events but everyone knows what we had to endure to achieve that. Results are not born out of history, especially not from a history as small as ours. The secret, which is also the most difficult thing, is to maintain the highest standards in every competition we enter. We are on the right path but it's only the beginning. If we think too much about the past, we will lose in the present. uefa.com: What does it take to win a major tournament? Scolari: It is important to play like a team. The players should work for the group because sometimes we have great players but we don't have a good group. The best example of a great group was Greece during 2004. The coach should help the team think as a group and self-interest should be forgotten. uefa.com: What was Greece's biggest strength in 2004? Scolari: They played with great team spirit. They knew their weaknesses and made the most of their strengths. They worked hard at free-kicks and corners and won some matches through them. uefa.com: Are you looking forward to facing Otto Rehhagel again in Dusseldorf? Scolari: I am very pleased to face Otto again. Our teams have played three times recently and we have an excellent relationship. Of course I was disappointed after losing the EURO 2004 final but I have always had a good relationship with Otto. It is a mystical match because I have not won against them. Besides that it is important to see how we react against a compact team. uefa.com: Portugal are one of the favourites to win UEFA EURO 2008. If Portugal don't win, who do you think will? Scolari: Portugal are not one of the favourites. I think we are among the four, five or six teams who can vie for the title. To me the great favourites are the traditional teams who have participated in five or six EURO and World Cup finals such as Italy, Germany and France. uefa.com: How do you handle the pressure of a major tournament? Scolari: Coaches have to absorb the pressure instead of transferring it to the players. They already have enough pressure from their clubs and their club coaches. This is the moment for them to work and live for their country. It is important they play with great joy and commitment and without great pressure from their national coach. uefa.com: Is Cristiano Ronaldo the best player of the world at the moment? Scolari: In my opinion he is in the top five. If he continues to grow as a player and as a man, I'm sure he will stay their. --

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