------by FIFAworldcup.com
Source:
07-04-2006 10:33
For the third successive major international tournament, the Brazilian coach played a decisive role in stopping Sven-Goran Eriksson's men making it further than the last eight. Quite apart from ending English dreams of FIFA World Cup™ glory, Scolari has guided Portugal to the semi-finals of world football's showpiece event for the first time since 1966.
For some time now, the relationship between Scolari and English football has been of the love-hate variety. Back in April, representatives of the English Football Association (FA) attempted to line up the experienced tactician to replace Eriksson as England coach after Germany 2006.
In the end, though, Felipão chose to turn down the offer, explaining: "I'm very flattered to have been offered the job, but if I accepted the invitation and then had to face England at the World Cup, how could I possibly ask my players to die for the Portuguese cause?"
After both sides topped their first-round groups, Scolari's prediction began taking shape. Narrow second-round wins for England over Ecuador and Portugal against the Netherlands guaranteed that Gelsenkirchen would be the setting for yet another decisive clash between 'Big Phil' and the 1966 champions.
England-Portugal match report
A sense of déjà vu
For the third major competition in a row, England stood between Felipão and a place in the last four. It all started at Korea/Japan 2002 where Scolari's Brazil side fought back from an early Michael Owen strike to win 2-1, with goals from Rivaldo and Ronaldinho keeping the Seleção on course for their fifth world crown.
Scolari then took charge of Portugal with the goal of winning the 2004 UEFA European Championship on home soil. Having safely negotiated the group phase, Scolari’s path once again crossed with David Beckham and Co at the quarter-final stage. The Estadio da Luz in Lisbon would be the venue for one of the most thrilling encounters of EURO 2004. Arch-predator Owen opened the scoring early on, only for substitute Helder Postiga to head a dramatic late equaliser and force extra time.
Fellow substitute Rui Costa scored a magnificent goal to put Portugal ahead, but England refused to lie down. With less than a minute of the first period of extra time remaining, Frank Lampard powered home John Terry’s knockdown to level the match and take the game to penalties.
Ricardo the gloveless wonder
In a nail-biting penalty shoot-out, the sides remained level after ten spot-kicks, misses by experienced duo David Beckham and Rui Costa cancelling each other out. It was then that Portugal shot-stopper Ricardo took centre stage, flinging off his gloves before saving from England forward Darius Vassell. The flamboyant custodian was not finished there, taking over from Nuno Valente to pummel the decisive penalty past opposite number David James and send Portugal into the semi-finals.
Ricardo reveals secret of his success
Two years on, history repeated itself, this time on German soil. With neither side able to break the deadlock after 120 minutes of nerve-wracking football, penalty kicks were once again needed to separate the two teams. Just as on that balmy night in Lisbon, it was Ricardo who stood up to be counted. Without even having to remove his gloves, the Sporting Lisbon keeper saved not one but three penalties, setting a new FIFA World Cup record at the expense of Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.
As a result, Scolari continued his remarkable run of success against Eriksson’s men, sending the English home and sealing Portugal's first appearance in the FIFA World Cup semi-finals for 40 years in one fell swoop. In an unerring coincidence, it was Bobby Charlton and England who ended Portugal’s hopes back in 1966, preventing tournament sensation Eusebio from gracing that year’s Final. Revenge is indeed a dish best served cold.
Editor:Ge
