Portugal to replace Oliveira

Antonio Oliveira is to be replaced as Portugal coach after the country's dismal performance in the World Cup.

Portugal were knocked out at the group stage after being beaten by the United States and South Korea.

Oliveira took over two years ago and guided Portugal through their undefeated World Cup qualifying campaign.

In a previous stint as national coach, between 1994-96, he led the side to the quarter-finals of Euro 96.

He has recorded the most wins for a Portuguese national coach (26) and the most games in charge (43).

The head of the Portuguese Soccer Federation, Gilberto Madail, said: "The federation's decision is that (Oliveira) cannot continue in the job.''

Oliveira was out of the country but Madail said the federation sent him a fax proposing an amicable agreement to end his contract, which expires in 2004.

Under Portuguese law, if the federation fires Oliveira it may still have to pay him €400,000 he would have earned over the next two years.

"If he doesn't accept, we will have to look at our legal and soccer options," Madail told a news conference.