Luiz Felipe Scolari

[RedWine]

Portugal coach Luis Felipe Scolari denied he punched Serbia’s Ivica Dragutinovic as the European Championship qualifier between the two sides in Lisbon ended in controversy.



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Scolari became involved in a 30-man melee towards the end of last night’s 1-1 draw that saw Dragutinovic dismissed, but the Brazilian coach insisted he did not hit the defender.

“I defended (Ricardo) Quaresma. He (Dragutinovic) appeared in front of me but I did not touch him,” Scolari said.

[RedWine]

LONDON, England -- Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari will have to sit in the stands for the remainder of his side's Euro 2008 qualifying campaign after being handed a four-game touchline ban by UEFA.

European's governing body handed down the penalty for his altercation with Serbia player Ivica Dragutinovic after their 1-1 draw in Group A on September 12.

Scolari has also been fined 12,000 Euros ($8,400) while Dragutinovic has landed a two-game ban.

A statement released by UEFA read: "The verdict means that Scolari will be banned from exercising his function as coach for the Euro qualifiers in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in October, and at home against Armenia and Finland in November.

"Before and during the match, he will not be allowed to go in the team dressing-room, the tunnel, or the technical zone, or on the pitch. In addition, he will not be allowed to communicate with his team."

Portugal, who reached the semifinals of the 2006 World Cup, are struggling to qualify for Euro 2008, trailing group leaders Poland and Finland but with a game in hand.

Scolari's punishment was announced as news reports linked Jose Mourinho with the Portuguese national team post in the wake of his shock departure from Chelsea on Thursday.

Scolari, who led Brazil to the 2008 World Cup, has already said he will stand down after Euro 2008.

[abadani69]

The Portuguese Soccer Federation said on Thursday it will hold an emergency board meeting next week to discuss coach Luiz Felipe Scolari's four-match suspension by UEFA.

Brazilian Scolari, who was banned earlier on Thursday, has apologised for lashing out at Serbian player Ivica Dragutinovic after their 1-1 draw in a Euro 2008 qualifier on Sept. 12.

Federation president Gilberto Madail said in a statement to reporters he had not yet received UEFA's explanation for the punishment.


"However, to suggest a four-game suspension, which Scolari will appeal, according to his rights, if confirmed, is a heavy sanction for the Portuguese team that is playing to qualify for the final phase of the Euro 2008," Madail said.

"I met with Scolari for about two hours to share some thoughts on the problem and decided to convene an emergency meeting of directors for Monday.

"I am not the owner of the Federation and will accept, like Scolari, any decision that comes from the board of directors."

Scolari, who sat next to Madail during the meeting with reporters, said: "Although I have recognised with all honesty my mistake, I think the sanction is excessive.

"The player who started this whole situation (Dragutinovic) was suspended for two games. And that is why I will appeal this decision as soon as the Portuguese Federation receives the reasons."

[abadani69]

Portugal's Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has been banned for four matches by UEFA after a violent altercation with Serbian player Ivica Dragutinovic.

Scolari and Dragutinovic were caught up in a pitch-side flare-up after a hot-tempered Euro 2008 qualifier which ended 1-1 on September 12 and led to Scolari lashing out at the Serbian with his fist.

The ban will rule Scolari out of being on the touchline for Portugal's remaining four qualifiers. The Brazilian was also given a 12,120 euros (17,000 dollars) fine.

However Scolari said he will appeal the UEFA decision.

"I think that this punishment is excessive. The player who is the origin of this situaton has been suspended for two matches and that's why I will appeal this decision," Scolari said at a press conference.

Dragutinovic has been handed a two-match ban by UEFA, European football's ruling body, for his role in the incident ruling him out of qualifiers in Armenia and Azerbaijan on 13 and 17 October respectively.

Scolari said after the match that the Sevilla player had insulted his family.

"Words in Spanish directed at my family, I understand perfectly well," he said.

"As such when I reacted, it was the wrong reaction but sometimes even rational and normal people can make mistakes."

UEFA said the sanctions were for "improper conduct".

Both Scolari and Dragutinovic can appeal the decision but must do so within three days of the receipt of the written grounds for the decision.

Scolari will now be sidelined from Portugal's upcoming matches in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in October, and at home against Armenia and Finland in November.

Before and during the match, he will not be allowed to go in the team dressing-room, the tunnel, or the technical zone, or on the pitch. In addition, he will not be allowed to communicate with his team.

Portugal sit third in qualifying group A four points adrift of Poland and two behind Finland, both of whom have played one game more than Scolari's side.

Serbia are in fourth place on 16 points, one adrift of Portugal.

[RedWine]

Much has been made of Luiz Felipe Scolari's CV. Numerous cup titles is his home nation; the Copa Libertadores de America, the South American equivalent of the Champions League; manager of Brazil, and the World Cup to boot. But with that record comes expectations, especially with Roman Abrabovich as paymaster.

The last time a coaching role in this country was offered to the Brazilian - the England job - he turned it down flat, citing cultural pressures. The position he has just taken is pressure personified: Abramovich wants entertainment after the Avram Grant era. Of course, the Russian will pay for the privilege , but he will surely demand the Champions League trophy in return.


Great expectations: Scolari is being tipped to take Chelsea to the top
The bookmakers are not so hard to please - but only just. Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United are favourites to once again take England and Europe by storm and reclaim both the Premier League and Champions League titles, but Scolari is expected to steer Chelsea into a close second. United are 6/5 to win the domestic title and 13/2 to win in Europe, Chelsea are at 9/4 and 7/1 respectively.

The Brazilian is even being given odds of 14/1 to win the double. Ferguson is again favourite at 9/1, Wenger and Arsenal are at 33/1 with outsiders Liverpool at 50/1.

Scolari is also under pressure before his side play a match, for he is expected to bring in some eminent names this summer. Robinho, Deco and Ricardo Quaresmac have all been linked, and with his Brazilian connections no doubt in mind, he is at Evens to bring in Kaka from AC Milan.

Scolari will be gratified to know, however, that he is being tipped as having much greater longevity than his predecessor. Avram Grant remaining at Stamford Bridge was given short shrift - at the time of his appointment on September 20 last year, those betting that he would leave before the start of the 2008/09 season were being offered just 1/3.

Scolari, by contrast, is currently at 8/1 - in spite of the Premier League's manager turnover rate and Roman Abramovich's roving eye.

[abadani69]

So now Joachim Loew can come out of his glass cell to get back to guiding Germany closer to a fourth European Championship title.

And Luiz Felipe Scolari can concentrate on his new job with Chelsea.

The old guard of European soccer showed the upstart newcomer how to win championship games on Thursday. Germany marches on to the Euro 2008 semifinal after a 3-2 victory, while Portugal goes back to asking itself once again why it has never won a major title.

It was typically professional Germany, including a sneaky push by Michael Ballack in heading the third goal, while Portugal’s flair simply didn’t make it to the stadium.

Germany went into this game in the unusual position as the underdog, and with coach Loew banished to the stands because of his arguing with Austria’s Josef Hickersberger and with the fourth official in Monday’s group game. Loew watched the game from behind a window in an enclosed executive box at Basel’s St. Jakob Park, hugging a “cellmate” whenever Germany scored.

Hansi Flick barked instructions from the technical area, but maybe it was the absence of Loew’s perpetually worried look from the side of the field that helped the Germans play their normal game. A near-post redirection and two set pieces—the classic German way of winning big matches. It’s been going on for decades.

Bastian Schweinsteiger made the perfect run to prod home a cross from the left by Lukas Podolski in the 22nd minute, and Miroslav Klose was left unmarked in front of the net to head home a free kick four minutes later.

But Ballack’s goal never should have stood.

When a free kick came floating over to the far post, he blatantly pushed Chelsea teammate Paulo Ferreira in the back to leave himself with a clear header for 3-1 in the 62nd minute. Portugal’s second goal came three minutes from the end and Scolari’s players looked well-beaten long before that.

The man who guided Brazil to its fifth World Cup title in 2002 has now reached the end of the road with Portugal.

Scolari led the team to the Euro 2004 final on home turf and the semifinal of the 2006 World Cup. But Portugal managed to lose twice to Greece at the Euros it hosted, once in the opening game and also in the final, so there was little to celebrate then.

After beating England on penalty kicks to reach the World Cup semifinals, Scolari’s team tumbled 1-0 to France. After impressively beating Turkey and the Czech Republic here, Portugal had the look of potential champions.

But so much was missing from this performance, and even Scolari couldn’t find it.

He went from one exasperated look to another. But although nothing went right for Portugal, it didn’t deserve to go right.

Cristiano Ronaldo, scorer of 42 goals for Manchester United, lasted the full 90 minutes. But he was really only in the game for five minutes before halftime.

He ran past two German defenders, only for goalkeeper Jens Lehmann to block his shot with his hand. Nuno Gomes pulled Portugal back into the game by knocking in the rebound for 2-1 in the 41st minute.

Just before halftime, Ronaldo shot just wide of the post after another typical run.

In the second half, however, he contributed little. And he was back to those old tricks that have made him one of the most annoying players in the game.

Felled by the merest of touches from Arne Friedrich, Ronaldo looked back and, a second or so after the foul, began rolling around as if he’s been shot in the leg. The German defender wound up with a yellow card.

Remember the Wayne Rooney incident at the World Cup? After Rooney had stomped on Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho, Ronaldo raced over and pushed his Manchester United teammate. After the England striker had been sent off, Ronaldo winked at the Portugal bench.

Maybe the transfer speculation surrounding several of the Portugal stars has taken their minds off what they should be doing for their national team. Ronaldo has made no secret he wants to move to Real Madrid. Deco appears to be leaving Barcelona, and there are headlines that Ricardo Carvalho could be joining former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan.

Scolari’s move to Chelsea was announced as the championship started, and maybe that had an effect, as well.

The scowl, the glare, those intimidating gesticulations and “I don’t believe it” moments are on their way to the Premier League.

That means Portugal has to rebuild from the top and is still no closer to a title.

[abadani69]

Luiz Felipe Scolari has arrived in English soccer with a mountain of work and little time to do it. He better be a quick learner.

The coach who guided Brazil to a fifth World Cup title six years ago but failed to win anything with Portugal has a little more than a month to decide on his plans for Chelsea. Which players will go, which ones will be added.

He arrives amid speculation that Frank Lampard may join former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan, that Didier Drogba wants to move to AC Milan and that Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka are looking for a return to France.

Although Deco has arrived from FC Barcelona, there are reports—denied by Chelsea—that the Blues have made an “astronomical” transfer bid for Milan’s Kaka and that another Barcelona player, Samuel Eto’o, could also be on the way to London with Andriy Shevchenko going the other way.

He also must persuade goalkeeper Petr Cech to forget his costly fumble for the Czech Republic at the European Championship, where his dropped cross helped Turkey to a remarkable comeback victory that knocked out his own team. It was the sort of amateurish blunder that could shatter a ‘keeper’s confidence forever and will be on the minds of Cech, opponents and fans until the new season starts and maybe beyond.

The tough-talking Scolari also has to get his players used to his methods as well as those of the three fellow Brazilian assistants he has brought with him. And he will have to deal with a British media that will pounce on anything he does.

Welcome to the Premier League, Luiz Felipe Scolari. It’s likely to be a bumpy ride.

But “Big Phil” is used to taking the punches soccer throws at him, and he usually gives plenty back. Remember the touchline scuffle he had with Serbia defender Ivica Dragutinovic at a Euro 2008 qualifying game that led to a three-game ban from the bench?

Now he comes up against English soccer’s heavyweights: Manchester United’s Alex Ferguson, Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger and Liverpool’s Rafa Benitez. Manchester City’s Mark Hughes, Everton’s David Moyes and Blackburn’s new manager, Paul Ince, aren’t exactly shy, either.

Scolari also has an army of bosses and advisers at Chelsea from chairman Bruce Buck to sporting director Frank Arnesen to chief executive Peter Kenyon. Plus owner Roman Abramovich himself.

The Russian billionaire, who appears happy to underwrite the club’s huge debts up to a point, doesn’t give interviews and confides only in his close friends. But he has shown signs of tinkering with the soccer operation, something Scolari won’t stand for.

Two seasons ago, Mourinho was furious that the Russian hired Shevchenko against his wishes. The Ukraine striker, a scoring machine when he was at AC Milan, has made little impression at Stamford Bridge. His arrival led to friction between the owner and the coach. And when Chelsea was underachieving early last season, Mourinho left.

Potentially, Scolari has some of the Abramovich millions to spend. But Scolari most likely will keep most of the squad and must impose his style and prove himself immediately.

Chelsea needs to start with early victories. If not, the Blues most likely will be trailing United, Arsenal and Liverpool, and that could damage morale and invite criticism.

Abramovich has appointed his fourth coach in five years. He hasn’t spent his money just to see his team finish runner-up in three competitions like last season. Scolari has to deliver at least a Premier League or Champions League title in his first or second year.

If he doesn’t, it’s certain the Russian owner’s patience will run out. And Scolari will join Claudio Ranieri, Jose Mourinho and Avram Grant through the Stamford Bridge exit door.

[abadani69]

Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari says he is targeting an unprecedented four trophies in his first season and is close to finalising the starting 11 who he hopes will achieve the feat.

The newly-installed Brazilian has seen his team score 11 goals in his first two games in charge, and he gave a bullish message here on what he wants from his players.

"They arrived last year in three finals, that's very good for me," he said.

"We have four competitions and I will try to win four competitions and the players are the same," he added, referring to the Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup and the League Cup.

"It will be very difficult but we have the team and the players for this. Chelsea have given me everything I want."

Since taking over at the beginning of the month, Scolari has identified the core of the side that he hopes will save him from the sort of unceremonious dumping that befell former coach Avram Grant.

"I now have some idea but I need to be with them for more training, to finish this tour and then I will have my ideas for the team to play Portsmouth (on August 17)," he said.

"I have a minimum of 75 percent of the team in my mind."

Chelsea romped past Chengdu Blades 7-0 on Saturday after thrashing Guangzhou Pharmaceutical last week. They play a Malaysian XI in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday and then head to Moscow for the Railways Cup.

Scolari admits the opposition has yet to give then a stern test but knows playing in Russia will a different ball game, which he is relishing.

"Eleven goals in two games is a stepping stone and I think the match on Tuesday will be more difficult than the last and then the Russian team knows everything about us," he said.

"It is then that I will know whether this team is ready. But my team is growing up and they are more free in the field now."

Without naming names, he added that after less than a month in charge he had identified a small group of players who stand out above the rest and who will form the backbone of his side.

"I have had 15 or 20 days with the players and I know now who is the most important for us," he said.