Coach Scolari has chance to make World Cup history

LISBON, May 25 (Reuters) Global speculation linking Luiz Felipe Scolari with the job of England coach dominated the world's sporting headlines at the end of April until the 57-year-old Brazilian said he did not want the job.

While he would have made history by becoming the first Brazilian to coach the national team of the motherland of football, he can still make history in the World Cup by becoming the first man to win the competition with two different countries.

All he has to do is lead Portugal to victory in Germany.

While Scolari knows there is only a slim chance of bringing the trophy back to Lisbon, he could leave the job with his head held high if Portugal at least reach the quarter-finals. That is, if he leaves the job at all.

After what looked like a realistic chance of moving to England collapsed, the Portuguese FA and Scolari became very guarded about his future plans. He may stay, he may go and nothing will be decided until after the finals appeared to be the new message from Lisbon.

Away from the media speculation over his future, Scolari, who steered his native Brazil to their fifth title in 2002, will be helped by working with largely the same squad that reached the Euro 2004 final before losing to Greece.

''We will go to Germany with the idea of winning or, at least to reach the final, but to get there is a long road,'' he said.

The man known as 'Big Phil' helped Portugal to get a place in Germany with nine wins and three draws in qualifying.

No stranger to controversy, he was criticised when he left veteran goalkeeper Vitor Baia out of the Euro 2004 squad.

But he appealed to the Portuguese to support the national team, which often comes a poor second to the club sides. The result has been crowds who roar on Portugal.

His antics as a coach have been no less controversial, although he has toned down his act considerably since he has been an international manager.

At club level in Brazil though, he was famous for his heightened sense of ''gamesmanship'' -- ordering ballboys to delay returning the ball, whipping up a storm on the touchline, generally doing everything he possibly could to give his team any advantage.

Scolari debuted as a player with Aimore in Brazil and began coaching in 1982. After stints at home and in the Middle East, he joined Criciuma in 1991 and led them to the Brazil Cup.

He made his name at Brazilian side Gremio, who won several titles, including South America's Libertadores Cup.

In June 2001 he became Brazil's fourth coach in a year. Scolari ignored widespread criticism of his 3-5-2 formation as his team won all seven games to claim the world title.

He would love to echo that feat and return to Portugal with the first major international trophy in their history.

Reuters