By Phil McNulty Chief football writer in Germany

Scolari was appointed Portugal's coach in January 2003

Luiz Felipe Scolari was afforded the rare privilege of being applauded into a press conference in Munich on Tuesday.

The standing ovation was delivered by Brazilian reporters still grateful for his delivery of the World Cup in Japan four years ago.

The man England failed to land will be treated with similar reverence in Portugal if he guides them to Sunday's World Cup final at France's expense in Munich on Wednesday.

Every Scolari achievement will be met with envious glances from those who hoped the Football Association would capture their first-choice, rather than what they fear will be a cut-price Sven-Goran Eriksson in Steve McClaren.

Make no mistake, life would never have been dull under this volatile, gesticulating Brazilian who is a show all of his own every time he enters the public eye.

One Scolari answer is longer than some coach's press conferences, each question met with a narrowing of those Gene Hackman eyes, a lavish gesture and a bizarre facial expression.

WORLD CUP BLOG Rarely have there been such scenes of chaos, confusion and a little touch of ill-feeling as there were when Portugal boss "Big Phil" Scolari and his French counterpart Raymond Domenech met the media Our man in Munich More on our World Cup blog

Scolari acknowledged his Brazilian counterparts as he spoke about the clash with France in Munich before delivering the one-man show he feels almost obliged to deliver.

He helpfully lined up reporters' tape recorders, even managing to turn this into a mini-drama, a reason for a wave of the arms and more gurning.

And then, when one of the tapes fell, he reeled backwards in melodramatic style.

If something is worth doing, Scolari believes it is worth over-doing.

All this is accompanied by the contrasting figure of a Portuguese press officer with a permanently deadpan Buster Keaton expression - the straight man to Scolari's headlining act.

I have the respect of 99% of the Portuguese people Luiz Felipe Scolari

Scolari makes every question appear like it is the first and last he is ever likely to face, and he had plenty to deal with in Munich.

He swept aside suggestions he is in charge of a Portugal side well-versed in football's black arts, especially by a French media ready to turn on the psychological warfare.

And when presented with the inevitable question of a possible return to Brazil by his fellow countrymen, he was at his most expansive.

Cue tapping of stomach and the message: "I'm a bit fat. I am very well. I live in a spectacular place and I have a great working relationship with the Portuguese federation.

Scolari brought fellow countryman Deco into the Portugal team

"We have a group made over three years. We understand each other perfectly. I have the respect of 99% of the Portuguese people. People who have never been to Portugal have missed out."

No clues there then.

As elusive as he was when FA chief executive Brian Barwick flew to Lisbon in a bid to appoint him as successor to Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Scolari spoke no English in Munich - indeed the press conference ended in rancour when what was meant to be 15 minutes of Portuguese questions and 10 from the international media turned into 25 minutes in his native tongue.

The applause that greeted his arrival was replaced by whistling and a rather nasty word aimed at Portugal's press officer.

Scolari, not surprisingly, made a gesture - and walked away without a care.

But that is the nature of the man.