Rebuilding the team

By B. SANJEEVAN

Portugal’s victory over Brazil last week is a sign of better things to come for Scolari’s young side.

CAN Portugal be taken seriously? As runners-up on home soil at the last European Championships in 2004, and semi-finalists at last summer’s World Cup in Germany where they succumbed to the mastery of Zinedine Zidane, Franck Ribery and Thierry Henry, Portugal hope to go one better in their next major event, the 2008 European Championships, to be held in Austria and Switzerland.

All these recent successes have come under the tutelage of Luiz Felipe Scolari, who has rekindled the fortunes of this once ailing footballing power, transforming them into one of the leading lights of the global game.

SLIPPERY CUSTOMER: Captain Ronaldo is the central force in the current Portugal team.

The 59-year-old who led his native Brazil to World Cup glory in 2002 has instilled a sense of belief in his squad, an essential ingredient that a potential winner needs to succeed.

With Portugal, Scolari is set on forging ahead with plans for his side’s second tilt at the Henri Delaunay trophy next summer but first he has to ensure safe passage through the treacherous waters of qualification.

Portugal are in Group A alongside, the ever-dangerous Serbia, the rejuvenated duo of Poland and Belgium, also-rans Azerbaijan, Armenia and Kazakhstan, the current group leaders at this stage are the surprising Finns, for whom Jari Litmanen and Sami Hyypia have been in awesome form.

With only the group-winners and runners-up making it to the finals, Scolari’s men are languishing in fourth-place in the standings, four points off the pacesetters but with a match in hand.

After an indifferent start to their campaign, which included a loss to the Poles in Warsaw as well as being held in Helsinki in a match the Portuguese had to thank goalkeeper Ricardo for ensuring a precious point, Felipao (Big Phil) knows that his side can ill afford any further slip-ups.

Various reasons have been cited for Portugal’s woes but the most valid is the fact that Scolari is in the process of rebuilding the team following the departure of a number of stalwarts.

Luis Figo and two-time French Footballer of the Year, the Azores-born forward Pedro Pauleta called time on their respective international careers following the World Cup in Germany forcing Scolari to blood new boys into the world of international football.

His young side is short on experience but laden with an abundance of talent. Winger Cristiano Ronaldo leads a host of fresh faces and the Manchester United player is the undoubted star of the pack.

SCOLARI: He knows he has to drag Portugal up the Euro 2008 qualifiers next month.

Just 22, Ronaldo has set the Premiership alight this season with stirring displays for the Red Devils and has even amassed a goal tally of 15, his highest return since making the switch from Portugal’s Sporting Club in 2003.

Already a firm favourite amongst the Old Trafford hordes for his swashbuckling style of play, the boy from Funchal is an icon of both club and country.

In the Portugal set-up, Ronaldo, who wears the captain’s armband, is aided by a host of former youth team players including FC Porto’s Ricardo Quaresma, Tiago of Olympique Lyon, Raul Meireles and Joao Moutinho.

Scolari’s task is to ensure that the newbies gel with the mainstays of the team, especially Barcelona’s Deco, Ricardo Carvalho of Chelsea and Petit.

Last week’s 2-0 victory over Brazil at the Emirates Stadium proved that the gaffer was on the right track as after withstanding long periods of sustained pressure from Dunga’s selecao, volleys late on from substitute Simao Sibrosa, another member of the new brigade and Carvalho sealed Portugal’s second successive win over their illustrious opponents.

Ever the type of man to downplay his side’s achievements, Scolari only managed to muster talk of the game being merely a confidence booster and it was at the end of the day, only a friendly.

The true test of character would come next month when the Euro 2008 qualifiers resume with the Portuguese hosting the Belgians at the Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon.

Belgium have begun a move in the right direction after many years in the doldrums following the appointment of Rene Vandereycken, a former midfield hard-man who featured for his country in the 1982 and 1986 FIFA World Cups as manager.

Vandereycken will be expecting a strong showing from his charges and this match-up will be a stern test for both sides as they go in search of maximum points to keep their hopes alive.

Four days later on March 28, Scolari has arguably an even tougher assignment, this time against Serbia at the Crvena Zvezda (Red Star) Stadium in Belgrade.

Traditionally strong on home soil, the Serbians are just a point behind Finland and a win in front of their vociferous fans would be just the right elixir to wash away the pain from a humiliating World Cup campaign.

Scolari needs six points from Portugal’s next two outings to cement their place at next summer’s festival of European football, anything less could spell the end of his time on the Iberian peninsular.