Scolari to remain with Portugal

Lisbon:

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari extended his contract through the 2008 European Championship, the country's soccer federation said late on Friday. "Both parties have agreed to renew the contract for a further two years. The new contract is effective from August 1 and extends to 31 July 2008," the Portuguese soccer federation said in a statement on its Web site. Scolari, a Brazilian, coached Portugal to a fourth-place finish at the World Cup in Germany earlier this month and runner-up in the 2004 European Championship final, losing to Greece. The 57-year-old also led Brazil to its fifth World Cup title in 2002. In Germany, Scolari extended his World Cup unbeaten streak to 12 matches before Portugal lost to France in the semifinals. The federation praised Scolari for extending his contract, due to expire at the end of July, and said he had received "many numerous proposals" from other teams. Brazilian media reported on Friday that Scolari had refused an invitation to coach the Brazilian national team. Scolari cited family reasons for declining the offer form Brazilian soccer confederation, the O Globo newspaper said. (AP)