Hosts, Scolari begin historic quest

For millions of Portuguese, this represents the best chance they have had of winning a major tournament. Most Greeks will be happy if their team avoids humiliation and scores some goals, while winning a match would be a bonus.

The expectation on the hosts to start their Group A campaign with victory is enormous, but Scolari, who was under even greater pressure to bring the World Cup back to Brazil in 2002, is used to the demands of an expectant public.

He has tried to keep things in perspective recently and at least his chances of winning the opening match have been boosted by a clean bill of health for the squad.

Rui Costa is expected to start as playmaker in preference to Brazilian-born Deco, who might have to be content with a place on the substitutes’ bench at the Estadio do Dragao, home of his European Cup-winning club side Porto.

Scolari has been credited with uniting the team behind the cause and led by example this week when he responded to speculation he had agreed to move to Benfica after the tournament by saying he would go anywhere except the club he was reported to be joining. ‘‘Everyone is rowing in the same direction,’’ said Portugal defender Rui Jorge.

Rehhagel also hopes to have a full-strength squad despite recent injury problems. With leading striker Demis Nikolaidis on the road to recovery and towering defender Traianos Dellas eager to play despite a back injury, Rehhagel is expected to trust his usual 4-4-2 lineup.

Rehhagel, who used the same formation in a 1-1 friendly draw against Portugal last November, likes to adopt this system when the opposing team fields one striker.

With two strong men in central defence, Dellas and Nikos Dabizas, and fullbacks who enjoy the occasional run down the pitch, Rehhagel will hope to set the game’s tempo. Playmaker Vassilis Tsartas on the left and Stelios Giannakopoulos on the right will be aiming to crack open the Portuguese defence and create opportunities for fast strikers Nikolaidis and Angelos Haristeas.