Scolari said Portugal would take it one game at a time after recording their second successive victory with a 2-0 win over Iran.

"It's only the second time Portugal has qualified for the second round in 40 years but we have to look at it game by game," he said.

"Against Mexico we can be calmer, we can rest some players and then we'll have to see what happens in the last 16.

"We always want more and we hope with today's performance, which was much than against Angola, we might be viewed by our opponents as a team to be reckoned with."

Scolari would not be drawn on whether he would rather face Argentina or the Netherlands, who will fight it out for the top spot in Group C on Wednesday.

Portugal will play the runners up in that group if they are not beaten by Mexico the same day.

"I don't have a preference -- my preference is for Portugal to qualify," Scolari said.

But he said the Euro 2004 finalists, regarded as outsiders here, had the potential to spring a surprise in the last 16.

"All the teams are very balanced and very even, they're in good condition. There are five or six teams which I believe are the best, they might be playing very well but one day they can have an off-day and be eliminated.

"So there's no point in choosing, you have to play your game."

Deco, whose magical finish from 25 yards finally penetrated Iran's defence in the 63rd minute, said Scolari had drilled it into the team not to look too far ahead.

"Our objective was first to take each game one at a time. We won the first game, now we've qualified and following on from Euro 2004 we are just having to concentrate on one game at a time," Deco said.

"All the teams are balanced, I don't think any are above average but they're all playing at the same level."

Scolari joined Portugal after taking Brazil to the 2002 world title and has become their most successful coach, chalking up a record 29 victories and leading them to the Euro 2004 final.

They are now unbeaten in 16 competitive matches stretching back to February 2005.