Scolari: “Portugal are not Ronaldo and 20 others”

Portugal receive messages of support from Brazil

Cristiano Ronaldo will join the Portugal squad in their training camp at Viseu today, but national team coach Scolari has moved to quell talk of the team being a one-man band.

Using the example of the failed penalty by Ronaldo in the Champions League final, Scolari made it clear that success depends on the whole squad and not just the Manchester United superstar.

“It’s important that we learn one player cannot carry the other 20, but rather it has to be the other 20 who help one. When Cristiano missed the penalty it could have marked a whole season’s work negatively for him. But his team-mates helped him, giving his team victory and this is an important lesson for Portugal as well.”

Meanwhile, the daily press conference with a distinctly Brazilian flavour proved a lively affair yesterday. Brazilian singer Roberto Leal participated, and messages of support for Portugal were read out from the legendary Pele and none other than the President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, which read:

“It’s with much satisfaction that I add my voice to pay homage to the much respected and competent work of Luiz Felipe Scolari. It’s obvious that in Brazil we are all rooting from Portugal and for Big Phil, as we always do apart from when the two countries play each other.”

Petit’s last tournament

Midfielder Petit also spoke, announcing that it would be his final tournament for the national team. “I’ve participated in one European Championship, this is my second, and two World Cups. It will be my last tournament. I hope to leave with Portugal doing something special.”

The squad will be at full strength from today onwards, with Ronaldo, Nani, Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira joining the group after participating in the Champions League final on Wednesday.