Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari described reaching the Euro 2004 final as “more important” than winning the World Cup with Brazil in Japan two years ago.
Scolari was speaking after Portugal’s 2-1 semi-final victory against Holland in Lisbon.
“Brazil had won the World Cup four times before we did it again two years ago,” he said.
“This is more important because Portugal has never been to a final and now we are there.”
“Now I am going to think about Sunday. I want to say how important the warmth the people of Portugal have shown us has been.”
Scolari also revealed that he will remain in charge of the Portugal team until the World Cup in Germany in 2006.
“It was on this day in 1991 the Portugal won the under-20 world championship in Lisbon and two years ago I won the World Cup with Brazil.
“So this is a magical day for me and Portugal. It was special to beat Holland because in 1995 I lost the world club championship with Gremio against Ajax, and some of those players were playing against us here.
“I think we could have killed the game a little bit earlier but I think my teams have to suffer – and in the end we won with a bit of suffering.”
