Scolari ´totally convinced´ Portugal will win

Luiz Felipe Scolari is confident Portugal will get the better of the Czech Republic in Thursday’s Euro 2012 quarter-final.

Paulo Bento’s side overcame an opening defeat to Germany in Group B to beat Denmark 3-2 and the Netherlands 2-1 to secure second spot in their section and set up a meeting with the Czechs.

The winner of that match will go on to meet either Spain or France in the semi-finals and Scolari believes Portugal have a chance to fight for a place in the final.

“Portugal will get through another round,” Scolari told Portuguese sports paper A Bola.

“I’m totally convinced they’ll overcome the Czech Republic and go through to the semi-finals. Besides, I felt they would beat Netherlands and that’s what happened.”

The veteran Brazilian coach, who took charge of Portugal between 2003 and 2008, went on to praise Bento.

“This campaign has been good and it has been a victory for Paulo Bento, the Portuguese Football Federation and the players. The work that Bento has done is fantastic,” he said.

Star player Cristiano Ronaldo has been lauded after his two goals guided the team past the Netherlands and into the last eight, but Scolari urged the side to focus on the collective rather than individual players.

“Teamwork is Portugal’s strength,” he said. “Don’t think or hope that Ronaldo can do everything on his own because nobody wins a match that way.”