Night of anniversaries ends in marriage
Luiz Felipe Scolari said yes to two more years of marriage with Portugal on Wednesday - two years to the day since winning the World Cup with Brazil, exactly 13 years since Portugal won the world youth title and on the night he led the hosts to their...
Luiz Felipe Scolari said yes to two more years of marriage with Portugal on Wednesday - two years to the day since winning the World Cup with Brazil, exactly 13 years since Portugal won the world youth title and on the 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."
Portugal have enjoyed plenty of success at lower levels, including the FIFA World Youth Championship victories in 1989 and 1991.
The second of those was won at the old Luz Stadium in Lisbon on June 30 when current Portuguese players Luis Figo and Rui Costa were in the team.
"I want to offer my congratulations to that team from 13 years ago and to all the fans who have given us such warmth during this campaign," he said.
"After the World Cup two years ago this is obviously a magical date for me."
Sweet revenge
Scolari had one more piece of history in mind, as he looked back to the night his former club Gremio lost the World Club Cup to Ajax Amsterdam.
"Some of the players in the Dutch team tonight played for Ajax when they beat Gremio in 1995," Scolari said.
"That gave me a special satisfaction in beating them tonight."