Portugal star Rui Costa has refused to be cast in the role of scapegoat for Saturday's shock defeat by Greece. The 32-year-old AC Milan star was replaced by Deco at half time in Porto at the weekend as coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who also sent on Cristiano Ronaldo for Sabrosa Simao, attempted to kickstart his side. But, as the recriminations continued ahead of tonight's vital second game against Russia in Lisbon, Rui Costa was in no mood to take the blame.
He said: "Nobody has been made the culprit for the defeat. A player doesn't like to be subbed, but you have to accept the changes. I'm not saying that when Deco and Cristiano Ronaldo came on it was not good for the team, but don't say that the difference was enormous and it was my fault that we lost."
Filed by Mark O'Neill-Cummins
