Portugal's head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari attends a soccer training session at the World Cup in Marienfeld July 3, 2006.[Reuters]

The Art of War by Chinese general Sun Tzu is one of Scolari's favorite books. He says it has helped him to the 2002 World Cup title with his native country and into the semifinals in Germany at the helm of Portugal. Scolari has won every game his teams have played at both tournaments - a streak that has hit a dozen.

With its stress on preparation, discipline, unity, the treatise is a guidebook for some in modern-day business, politics and sports. It is a fitting choice for a manager whose language is flecked with military terms, and whose next adversary is France tomorrow.

"He's enriched us, increased our confidence," Portuguese goalkeeper Ricardo Pereira said Sunday. "Every ship has its captain, and he's ours."

A newspaper report claimed yesterday that the Brazilian would stay with the team until Euro 2008.

Portuguese sports daily O Jogo said Scolari will remain coach regardless of Portugal's results at the World Cup.

It said Scolari made the decision after the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) found a sponsor to replace departing Banco Portugues de Negocios, the paper said. It did not name the new sponsor.

FPF President Gilberto Madail had already negotiated a new contract with Scolari worth an annual 1.5 million euros (US$1.9 million), it said.