Oliveira to assist Scolari

Portugal have confirmed that Agostinho Oliveira will be assistant to their new national coach, Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Long career
Oliveira took over as caretaker coach for the UEFA EURO 2004™ hosts in August following the departure of António Oliveira. The new No2 was previously a youth coach in a 13-year career at the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) during which he led teams to the UEFA European Under-16 and Under-18 titles.

Scolari contract
The FPF announced on Thursday that Scolari, who coached Brazil to FIFA World Cup success in June, would sign a contract covering the period from January 2003-July 2004.

Future friendlies
Meanwhile, the FPF are hoping to arrange a friendly against Italy on 12 February 2003 that would be Scolari's first match in charge, and have also issued an invitation to his native Brazil to play on 29 March in Porto or in the French capital, Paris.

Portuguese proposal
The Brazilian Football Confederation's website reported that it received a fax dated on Wednesday and signed by the FPF president, Gilberto Madaíl, proposing a match between the two teams and stressing that 29 March is a day of EURO 2004™ qualifying matches, which would guarantee the release of the chosen Brazilian players from their European clubs.