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Scolari inks new contract for two more years as boss
(China Daily)
Updated: 2004-07-02 06:41
Luiz Felipe Scolari said yes to two more years of marriage with Portugal on Wednesday afternoon - two years to the day since winning the World Cup with Brazil and exactly 13 years since Portugal won the world youth title.
And later that night he led the hosts to their first major final.
"I have a message for my friends," the Brazilian announced to cheers after Portugal's 2-1 victory over the Netherlands in the semi-finals at Euro 2004.
"The president of the Portuguese football association has been talking about our marriage. I have here the ring and I say 'yes' to two more years."
Scolari took charge of the Portuguese team after guiding his native Brazil to victory in the World Cup in Japan and South Korea in 2002. Brazil beat Germany 2-0 in the final on June 30.
Unlike Brazil, Portugal have no history of success at full international level and Scolari said he rated his achievement at Euro 2004 with his adoptive country even more highly.
"The feelings are different," he said. "Brazil had been world champions four times before I arrived and they had nothing to do with me.
"Portugal have never reached a final so in terms of my CV and of personal satisfaction this is even more important."
Meanwhile, Netherlands coach Dick Advocaat is likely to stand down after Wednesday's defeat, even though he has a contract that runs to the 2006 World Cup.
The vastly experienced 56-year-old has run out of patience with the bitter criticism of his tactics, some of it of an unpleasantly personal nature, from a country where expectations outrun reality and everyone is an expert.
"I know that in my job there always is criticism and I accept that. But some people violated every rule of decent behaviour without realizing what their pronouncements meant to the people back home," he said in an emotional outburst in the build-up to Wednesday's game.
"It all went much too far. When people talk about stoning and hanging you, I don't find that normal any more. In such an atmosphere you can hardly work any more."
Advocaat declined to discuss his future after Wednesday's game but gave a strong hint his resignation would be announced within days.
"Next week there will be a statement from the FA but I know already what I will do," Advocaat said.
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