Scolari anxious to avoid the Dutch
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Portugal coach Scolari sees Holland as the big danger at Euro 2004
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LISBON, Portugal -- Portugal's World Cup-winning Brazilian coach Luis Felipe Scolari has singled out the Netherlands as the team to avoid in Sunday's draw for the Euro 2004 finals.
Scolari says he hopes to take Portugal -- they qualified automatically as hosts -- to at least the semifinals in the 16-team event from June 12 to July 4.
But he believes the Dutch, winners in 1988, are hot stuff adding: "In my opinion Holland today are one of the five top teams in the world."
Hopes are high in football-mad Portugal that Scolari will revive the nation's fortunes after their surprise elimination in the first round of the 2002 World Cup.
He will have a talented group of players at his disposal, led by 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year and Real Madrid midfielder Luis Figo, AC Milan playmaker Rui Costa and Newcastle's Hugo Viana.
But the 55-year-old is taking the pressure off himself by stating that their aim is to be among the semifinalists.
"If we can all pull together, if we form the team that I want, we should be among the four finalists," said Scolari.
Seedings are based on the performance of teams in 2002 World Cup qualifying and the Euro 2004 qualifying phase.
Teams will be split into four pots for the draw, with hosts Portugal and reigning European champions France alongside Sweden and the Czech Republic in the first pot.
But Real Madrid playmaker Zinedine Zidane believes that two-time winners France will have a tough time defending their title.
"It will be very difficult to win again," said Zidane. "The European championships are becoming more and more difficult and the quality of teams and players is improving all the time.
"We might be favourites along with four or five other nations, with perhaps Portugal leading that group because they will be playing at home," added Zidane.
England, meanwhile, have been named in the second group of seeds along with European heavyweights Spain, Italy and three-time winners Germany.
Holland, emphatic winners against Scotland in the play-offs, are in pot three as they line up alongside Croatia, Denmark and Russia.
The final qualifiers, and tournament underdogs, complete the list - Bulgaria, Switzerland, Latvia and Greece.
Pot A -- PORTUGAL, FRANCE, SWEDEN, CZECH REPUBLIC
Pot B -- SPAIN, ITALY, ENGLAND, GERMANY
Pot C -- NETHERLANDS, CROATIA, DENMARK, RUSSIA
Pot D -- BULGARIA, LATVIA, GREECE, SWITZERLAND
