Figo backs Ireland/Scotland 2008 bid

Portugal superstar Luis Figo has given the Ireland/Scotland bid to host the Euro 2008 finals his backing.

Figo and his team-mates take on the Scots in Braga tomorrow night and the game is one of a series of friendlies arranged by the Portuguese ahead of the finals they will host in 2004.

It is the aim of Scotland boss Berti Vogts to use such games as preparation for a qualification campaign that is back on track after a shaky start and the Scots, who have joined forces with Ireland, will learn next month if their bid to host the 2008 tournament has been successful.

Figo has fond memories of the last time he was in Scotland as he was part of the Real Madrid team that beat Bayer Leverkusen to lift the Champions League trophy at Hampden Park in May.

He said: “I have a nice souvenir from Scotland. I don’t know Scotland so well but they have good conditions there to practice golf.

“I know they are trying to organise this important event. I wish them the best of luck.”

The Real Madrid man admitted he was not a fan of the weather and excessive rainfall was also on caretaker coach Agostinho Oliveira’s mind.

It has rained almost non-stop in Braga since the Scots arrived on Sunday and Oliveira feared the heavy pitch might suit Vogts’ team better than his.

Oliveira, who is expected to be replaced by ex-Brazil World Cup winner Luis Felipe Scolari in the next few days, had spent time studying three videos of Scotland matches and identified strikers Steven Thompson and Stevie Crawford as Vogts’ most potent weapons.

Thompson is out injured but Crawford is set to start at the crumbling Estadio Primeiro de Maio alongside Scott Dobie.

He said: “Crawford is a very good player. There are some very good players in the Scotland team.”

The Scots will certainly be looking to do better than the last time they were in Portugal, when Andy Roxburgh’s side suffered a 5-0 defeat in Lisbon in 1993.

Portugal captain Fernando Couto had played in that match and the Lazio defender recalled somewhat reluctantly the moment when his tackle broke Ally McCoist’s leg.

The 33-year-old said: “It makes me feel old to think about it. It was also the match when Jorge Costa was injured and was out for three or four months.”