© Reuters 2002

By Martin Roberts

OPORTO, Portugal, Jan 25 (Reuters) - A good result for Portugal's maturing side in this year's World Cup remains national coach Antonio Oliveira's main concern after Friday's draw for the 2004 European Championship. As hosts, Portugal qualify automatically and are free to play friendlies rather than qualifiers over the next two years.

But Oliveira's immediate focus was the World Cup and not the biggest sports event ever staged in Portugal. "We are thinking much more about Korea and Japan than Euro 2004 itself, but we came here to welcome everyone," Oliveira told journalists.

"The adrenaline for this draw was not the same as we felt in the World Cup draw, because as organisers we don't have to face that," he said.

"You might even say we have no right to be in the family photo," Oliveira quipped. By July, Oliveira may no longer even be in the hot-seat, whose previous occupant, Humberto Coelho, resigned shortly after Portugal lost to France on the Golden Goal rule in the semifinals of Euro 2000. Portugal's main stars have already turned 30 and the 2002 World Cup will be the last chance to shine on the international stage for the likes of Real Madrid winger Luis Figo, AC Milan playmaker Rui Costa, Sporting striker Joao Pinto and Lazio defender Fernando Couto.

TOURIST REGION
As Euro 2004 hosts, Portugal has begun building or revamping 10 stadiums from Braga in the north of the couuntry to Faro in the southern Algarve tourist region. The biggest ground will be Benfica's new Luz stadium in Lisbon, which will have a capacity of 65,000 and is set to host the 2004 final.

Friday's draw coincided with the 60th birthday of Portuguese soccer legend Eusebio, who was invited by UEFA to draw the teams for the qualifying groups. Eusebio, immortalised for being the top scorer in the 1966 World Cup finals with nine goals, echoed Pele's opinion that Portugal should be regarded as one of the favourites for this year's finals. "For Portugal, the most important game is the first one. We will have to fight to win," he said, referring to a clash with the United States on June 5.

"But we will make our mark. Although France, Brazil, England and Argentina are considered favourites, Portugal can go a long way if they stay calm," Eusebio added. Born a colonial Portuguese subject in Mozambique on 25 January 1942, Eusebio da Silva Ferreira's knack of tearing past defenders and blasting unstoppable right-footed shots and free-kicks earned him the nickname "Black Panther". Probably the most endearing image of Eusebio from 1966 are the four goals he scored against North Korea to bring Portugal an incredible 5-3 quarter-final victory after being 3-0 down.