UEFA Euro 2012: Jose Mourinho takes a dig at Spain team

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho reignited a special debate when he was asked what he thought about the Spanish team.

Mourinho was asked if Spain are still the favourites to win the Euro 2012 title, and he said: "I don't know. You speak about Spain and Barca (Barcelona) because the national team of Spain, they have five Real Madrid players too. So I don't know why you mix ... because they are two completely separate things."

"Spain is the world champion and no doubts about it. They are one of the best teams in the Europe, so normally, if things go in the right direction, Spain has to qualify and Spain has to go through and Spain has to compete maybe with Germany and maybe a couple of other teams to be the champion of Europe. Barcelona was the Champion of Spain and I repeat was the Champion of Spain and nothing else," he added.

He also had a word of praise for his native Portugal. Mourinho, who guided Real to the league title last term ending bitter rivals Barcelona's hold on the trophy, was quoted as saying by the A Bola sports daily: "Portugal don't depend on other teams. They only depend on themselves."

"If they do their job against the Netherlands, they will be in the quarter-final. I think that Portugal are one of the two or three best sides in the competition.

"But that doesn't mean much: everything is decided in 90 minutes, extra-time or penalties," the self-styled "Special One" said. "If Portugal get to the quarter-finals, anything can happen."

Paulo Bento's side, who were beaten 1-0 by Germany in their opening match, fought back to win 3-2 against Denmark on Wednesday. They play the Netherlands on Sunday evening in Kharkiv, also Ukraine.

Portugal have three points, as have Denmark, while Germany lead the group with six. The Dutch have yet to get off the mark.

(With AFP inputs)