（7月9日, 2006）
斯科拉裏帶領葡萄牙隊參加本屆杯賽，希望能夠改寫歷史，自己成為世界上唯一的一名帶領不同球隊獲得世界盃冠軍的教練，但是這個願望沒能實現，不過，他還是創造了葡萄牙隊近40年的最好成績。
由於葡萄牙隊沒有巴西足球的優良傳統和底蘊深度，斯科拉裏沒能把葡萄牙隊打造成世界冠軍。
他説：“帶領葡萄牙隊進入半決賽甚至要比帶領巴西隊進入決賽都要難，因為，葡萄牙只有1000萬人，而巴西卻有1億8千萬人。”
在過去的3年裏，在巴西人的調教下，葡萄牙人在細膩技術的基礎上，又增添了一些堅硬和剛強的作風。
但是，葡萄牙缺少一位世界級的射手，這是他們在屢屢打出精妙配合的情況下，卻無法得分的原因。
菲戈説：“我們缺乏的是一種將機會轉化為進球的能力。”
但是葡萄牙隊中場仍然有c羅納爾多這樣的天才球星，葡萄牙隊會繼續前往2008年歐錦賽的征程。
問題的關鍵是，斯科拉裏是否還會繼續帶領球隊，解決問題。
鏈結：http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=ap-wcup-portugalwrapup&prov=ap&type=lgns
原文：Scolari's Portugal falls just short of the big time
By BARRY HATTON, Associated Press Writer
July 9, 2006
STUTTGART, Germany (AP) -- Capturing soccer's biggest prize for a talented but small soccer nation was beyond even The Drill Sergeant's reach.
Luiz Felipe Scolari came to Germany looking for a place in the record books as the only coach to win the World Cup with different countries. Scolari guided his native Brazil, the world's most powerful soccer nation, to its record fifth title four years ago.
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Portugal doesn't have Brazil's pedigree nor its depth. For all his motivational skills, Scolari simply didn't have the material to mold a champion, although in finishing fourth he turned Portugal into a legitimate challenger.
"It was more difficult to reach a semifinal with Portugal than the final with Brazil, because there are only 10 million people in Portugal compared to 180 million in Brazil," Scolari said.
Veteran midfielder Costinha acknowledged that Portugal is not one of the sport's heavyweights.
"We're still one of European soccer's poor cousins," he said.
And the team is losing two of its stars: Captain Luis Figo and all-time leading goalscorer Pauleta announced their retirement from international soccer after Portugal lost to Germany 3-1 in Saturday's third-place game.
Despite the limitations, Scolari's Portugal made its longest run in 40 years. Finishing fourth was its best showing since Eusebio's 1966 team came in third.
With Scolari at the helm for the past three years, the Portuguese have chalked up their best series of results.
Portugal's 1-0 loss to France in the semifinals snapped a 19-game unbeaten streak dating to early last year and was its first competitive loss since it fell by the same margin to Greece in the final of the 2004 European Championship.
And Portugal's unbeaten run in its first five games in Germany pushed Scolari to 12 straight World Cup games without a loss.
"Nobody expected us to come this far," Scolari said. "We were a longshot."
The achievement was largely due to Scolari's influence.
Portugal before Scolari was a talented and entertaining team, but one that remained on the fringes of world soccer's aristocracy. In its only other World Cup appearances, in 1986 and 2002, it didn't advance past the group phase.
Under the Brazilian, nicknamed Big Phil and The Drill Sergeant for his uncompromising approach, the Portuguese gained confidence and an overriding hunger for victory.
Scolari added some steel to Portugal's renowned elegance. Two players were sent off during a nasty scrap with the Dutch in the second round, and Portugal held its nerve to overcome England in a penalty-kick shootout.
There is also a sense that Scolari has done as much as he can with the pool of talent at his disposal. The 1-0 semifinal defeat against France exposed shortcomings that have long denied the Portuguese a major trophy.
Once again, Portugal lacked a world-class striker that successful teams need.
The Portuguese were the lowest-scoring of the four World Cup semifinalists. Five of its seven strikes at the tournament came from midfielders. No goal was memorable.
Center forward Pauleta, who has 47 goals in 88 international matches, found the net just once in Germany. It was his only goal over 12 games in his last two international tournaments, including Portugal's Euro 2004 run. And it will be his last -- Pauleta has announced his retirement after the Germany loss.
"What we lacked was the ability to take our chances in front of the goal," Figo said.
One problem for Portugal is that most strikers in its domestic league are foreigners, many Brazilian.
There are skilled players left, though, who will carry the torch into the 2008 European Championship. Midfield mastermind Deco, winger Cristiano Ronaldo, and Maniche and Tiago play at some of Europe's biggest clubs and in Germany gained the experience to move up into leadership roles.
The question is whether Scolari will be around to see it all unfold.
Updated on Sunday, Jul 9, 2006 11:24 am EDT
作者-岳東興-北京第二外國語學院-英語系
責編：盧爽