Speaking after Portugal’s 1-0 defeat to Greece in the Euro 2004 final, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari believes his side will become stronger for the experience.
“We’ve lost in the final of the European Championships, so we will keep working the way we have been.
“If we keep working like that then in the future we will win something – but I must congratulate Greece.”
Portugal were outwitted by side a well-organised defensively-minded Greek team, but Scolari refused to criticise their tactics.
“They have been playing like this since the beginning of the tournament and they are very good at it.
“I congratulate both them and my colleague Otto Rehhagel. It is up to us, as the more offensive team, to find a way through these defensive systems.”
“It is up to us to find another way of winning. They have a wonderful defence and it works well.
“They play on the mistakes of the opponents. They scored the goal and won.
“They marked very well and stopped us and maybe we didn’t do some things as well as we could have done.
“But I can say only that the Greek defence was magnificent and say well done for the magnificent job they have done.”
“I think we were patient but in the last 10 minutes of the game there were too many stoppages.
“Maybe one or two of our players were getting nervous but I think we have been one of the most disciplined teams tactically in the competition.”
