Figo, at 31 desperate finally to taste glory at international level for the Portuguese, who have never won a major trophy, was furious when Scolari hauled him off with 15 minutes of normal time remaining against England, sending on Helder Postiga who promptly equalised and forced extra-time.

The Portuguese eventually advanced in a penalty shootout but by then Figo was in the dressing room on his own after deliberately walking around the touchline and down the tunnel, so avoiding Scolari.

Scolari, out to achieve a unique double having led Brazil to the 2002 World Cup, insisted there was no rift.

"Relations with Figo are fine. He is simply not the kind of guy to open up and pour out his heart, he is a private person," Scolari said at Portugal's training headquarters south of Lisbon.

"Everyone has their own personality and way of dealing with a situation. People experience the atmosphere differently and you have to live with that. I am the one who has to take the decisions regardless of how the players feel," Scolari added.

"Before I came to coach Portugal I admired Figo as a player. But now I also like him as a person," Scolari insisted.

"Figo is not someone who shows his emotions very much," he added, although goalkeeper Ricardo told O Jogo sports daily that his skipper had been crying with the emotion engendered by the quarterfinal win.

Portugal face the winners of Saturday evening's quarterfinal between the Netherlands and Sweden.

"They both have great technical ability and very gifted players," Scolari noted.

Asked if he had a slight preference Scolari smiled impishly and noted that "I know Figo has a Swedish wife (Helen Svedin)."

Portuguese reporters have been keen to prise any information they can from Scolari on his long-term future but he insists he will not deal with it.

"The England win gave us confidence. My first goal was to get through the first phase and the second to go further. I like Portugal, my family likes Portugal. But we are playing the Euro, so I won't discuss my future while the event is on."

Team doctor Enrique Jones meanwhile said Portugal were hoping that defender Jorge Andrade and striker Nuno Gomes would recover from ankle strains in time for the semifinal.

"They are undergoing specific treatment and will not train today. But they should be back for the next game," he said.