Maximum care was taken: let him not speak,
let him stay focused, let him not forget that the Euro is the only important
thing now, dpa reported.
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) and coach Luiz Felipe Scolari himself
were worried about the fuss around Cristiano Ronaldo9s future.
However, it mattered little that they managed to keep down those flames,
because within days they were dealing with the "Scolari fire."
The day after the team qualified for the quarter-finals of Euro 2008, a "historic day for Portugal" according to its coach, was not marked by the promising
performance of Cristiano Ronaldo and company. Rather, the news was the fact
that Chelsea made it official Wednesday that the Brazilian Scolari will coach
the Premiership side from July 1.
The FPF website said it all, with a major headline bidding farewell to the man
who has coached the national team for five years, reaching the final of Euro
2004 and the semi-finals of the 2006 World Cup.
The British daily The Guardian noted that Scolari himself had authorized
Chelsea to make the signing public after Portugal had qualified for the
quarter-finals, and after both himself and Chelsea owner, Russian tycoon Roman
Abramovich (who watched the game between Portugal and the Czech Republic on the
stands), had left the Stade de Genève. The idea was to be unreachable
once the news broke out.
On Thursday, The Independent said Scolari finalized his deal with Chelsea late Tuesday. That is, on the eve of the crucial game against the Czechs.
Further reactions will have to wait. The press conference scheduled for
Thursday was cancelled given that the players had a day off. They left the
Hotel Beau-Rivage, where they are staying in Neuchatel, Switzerland, in their private cars and without commenting despite media pressure.
FPF bosses were not answering their telephones and the website thanked the
"gaucho" for his work over five years but also included phrases in
relation to Cristiano Ronaldo which might sound strange to Scolari.
"Bearing in mind the superior interest of the national team, there will be
no further comment on this issue until after the Euro."
Sources at the Portuguese camp stressed that the FPF was aware of the
negotiations. The Portuguese daily Record agreed, noting that FPF president
Gilberto Madail had known about the talks for a month.
However, only a week ago Madail was hopeful about the chances of extending
Scolari9s contract as soon as the Euro was over.
"We have a great understanding. I know what I would like, and I think I
know what Scolari would like," Madail had said.
Could the fact that the "pai" will be gone next month affect the
emotional strength shown by Portugal, one of the in-teams at the Euro?
"He is a 'pai' (father) for us. His work method is very good. All Portugal players are very happy with him," defender Pepe said after Wednesday9s win against the
Czech Republic.
Scolari has a great influence on his men.
"You cannot link yourself to one team and lead another during the World
Cup. It would have been a betrayal of Portugal," Scolari said two years
ago, when he was mentioned as a candidate to coach England.
Perhaps because Chelsea is not a potential rival for Portugal at the Euro, he
allowed himself to be linked to two teams this time around.
Scolari orchestrated Ronaldo9s recent internet comments to defuse a mess the
player himself had got into by saying he would unveil plans about his future
"within two or three days."
However, he later lit his own fire, complete with huge quantities of fuel.
Can the Brazilian prevent the flames from scorching Portugal9s calm and its
chances of lifting the trophy at the Euro?
...