Shock treatment

After Portugal were unceremoniously dumped out of the 2002 World Cup just two years ahead of Euro 2004 which they host, federation officials took one look at champions Brazil and decided Luiz Felipe Scolari, who led the South Americans to a fifth title, would be their man to lead a European challenge.

Scolari had silenced all his critics at the 2002 World Cup by leading Brazil to a record quintet of titles after reshaping their faltering squad in his own steely image.

He was the third Brazil coach in a year, after Wanderley Luxembourgo and Emerson Leao, and found himself having to strip down the engine rather than tinker with the turbo.

The major overhaul was enough to see Brazil make it to Korea/Japan where his star trio of Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho swept Brazil through the tournament undefeated.

Scolari acheived that unlikely feat by imposing a European style regime on his side in which rigour, discipline and fighting spirit became the watchwords.

Scolari wasted no time cutting the dead wood from Portugal either, trying out some 17 new players in friendly preparation matches, especially after a 3-0 loss to Spain he later described as insurmountable. It was a match that ended one or two international careers.

Time to prepare

Though Scolari's record at Portugal has been average, appearances may be deceptive. While all other Euro 2004 hopefuls had to focus on winning, Portugal as hosts gain automatic qualification and so the coach has been able to chop and change at will with results carrying less importance than progress.

Scolari's career as a player was without note but when he turned to coaching he discovered he had real talent.

Despite having a reputation as a tough leader with his players, he led both Porto Alegre (1995) and Palmeiras (1999) to the Copa Libertadores, a massive acheivement by any standards.

He has spent most of his time in Brazilian football apart from two short periods abroad, in Kuweit and Japan.

A controversial and outspoken coach, Scolari is often in the news for his cavalier views.

For example, in June 2001 he was quoted by Argentine magazine El Graphico as saying that "Pinochet tortured a lot, but there is no illiteracy in Chile".

He has also upset the Brazilian homosexual community by declaring that if he discovered that one of his players was gay he would throw him off the team.