Portugal’s World Cup rivals will be making a huge mistake if they write off Luis Figo as a has-been, teammate Simao Sabrosa said on Wednesday.
Figo is now 34 and has been widely written off despite a glittering club career with the likes of Sporting Lisbon, Barcelona and Real Madrid.
”You can’t really say that Figo is old. We saw recently against Luxembourg that he is in tremendous shape,” said Simao of the 3-0 win where skipper Figo scored one with Simao adding the other two.
”Figo still has lots of drive and is a very important member of our team. He is still my idol and I can only say good things about his current form.”
Benfica winger Simao was also quick to dismiss suggestions that Portugal, the Euro 2004 runners-up, would go into their World Cup campaign racked by divisions and personality splits.
”The feeling is really great,” said Simao.
”We are all happy and smiling all the time. This is the World Cup after all, and we are all thrilled to be getting down to business. Physically we are feeling very strong and mentally we are confident.”
The Portuguese, coached by Felipe Luiz Scolari, who led Brazil to the 2002 title, face Angola in their Group F opener in Cologne on Sunday, and insist their team strength will see them into the next stage.
They also face Mexico and Iran in the first round.
”Our main strength is simple to describe — it is the team itself. We only think about the team. We don’t think about individuals or the big stars and the names that everyone knows.
”Scolari has us all in good shape and ready to go,” said Simao.
”Of course, we are anxious too, as our first match draws nearer, but we are ready.”
However, Portugal will be desperate to avoid the trap they fell into at the last World Cup in Asia in 2002 when they were beaten by the United States in the first match before crashing out in the group stage.
Adding to the complexity of the opening game is the fact that Angola was a colony of Portugal until 1975.
”We don’t think about the opponents,” said Simao, who missed the last World Cup through injury. — AFP
