Deco wins Rui Costa seal of approval

Football fever is reaching new heights in Portugal just 24 hours before the host nation play Greece in the opening match of Euro 2004.

However Luiz Felipe Scolari and his players know anything other than victory at the Estadio do Dragao could see the bubble burst.

Portugal have done their best to present a united front going into Saturday’s game although remarks by their playmaker Manuel Rui Costa have thrown a spanner into the works.

Last year Rui Costa and Luis Figo were public critics of the decision by Brazilian Scolari to select Brazil-born Deco for the national team. The coach silenced his critics by saying that anyone who did not like his decisions should say so to his face and then would be welcome to leave.

Rui Costa’s remarks, reported by Spanish paper El Mundo, seem to indicate that he still has his reservations about Deco whose outstanding form has been central to the success of European club champions Porto over the past two seasons.

“At the beginning we were not in agreement with Deco’s incorporation into the team, myself included,” said Rui Costa who, like Deco, is a playmaker.

“I did not think it was right because he is Brazilian not necessarily because he is Deco, it is just a question of principle.

“But I must admit he has given us additional quality and I believe he will be a regular in the Portugal squad for many years to come.”

Rui Costa’s compliment is hardly a surprise – Deco’s performances over the past two years speak for themselves – but it is clear he still considers the Porto playmaker to be Brazilian.

When the squad numbers were handed out Rui Costa got the playmaker’s number 10 jersey while Deco was handed the number 20 shirt which implies the AC Milan player will start against Greece.

The hosts simply must not slip up against a Greece team that has been portrayed as the weakest in Group A with Spain and Russia the other contenders in the pool.

That may be a little unfair on the Greeks who finished above Spain in qualifying but a draw would be a disappointment while defeat would be unthinkable for Portugal.

Portugal had high expectations going into the World Cup two years ago but went out in the first round after a disastrous start – they went 3-0 down to the United States in the first half of their first match although they retrieved the score to 3-2.

Earlier this week the Portuguese team received a visit from the country’s president Jorge Sampaio and later were also called on by prime minister Durao Barroso, showing just how important the game is.

The week leading up to the game also had an interesting sub-plot concerning coach Scolari whose contract expires at the end of July.

After weeks of speculation that he will join Benfica after the tournament, internet sites reported on Tuesday that he had reached agreement with the Lisbon giants.

Scolari called a snap press conference and lambasted the speculation, accusing some in the media of trying to destabilise the team.

Now players and media have rallied behind the big man who led his homeland Brazil to the 2002 World Cup while now a contract extension until 2006 is reported to be in the pipeline.

Scolari is expected to play a 4-2-3-1 system against Greece with Pedro Pauleta the lone frontman supported by three attacking midfielders – most probably Figo, Rui Costa and Simao Sabrosa.

Two defensive midfielders – maybe Costinha and Petit – will be behind that trio.

In defence Jorge Andrade is likely to partner Fernando Couto in the centre with Paulo Ferreira and Rui Jorge on the flanks in front of goalkeeper Ricardo.

If the starting line-up fails to find the key to the Greek defence then he has plenty of weapons in reserve, including Nuno Gomes and Deco.