PORTUGAL defender Ricardo Carvalho has backed new Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari to restore them to their former glories when he takes over after Euro 2008.

Carvalho spoke after Portugal booked their place in the quarter finals with a 3-1 win against the Czech Republic.

With Switzerland losing to Turkey last night, it means they are the first side to progress to the last eight, with co hosts, the Swiss the first to be eliminated.

Carvalho admitted Portugal were shocked to hear that Scolari would be leaving. "We heard the rumours, but didn't guess he would be going to Chelsea after the Euros," he said.

"He is a great manager and a big personality. He's the kind of guy that players respond to and I think we can go forward with him."

Before turning his attention to Chelsea, Scolari will hope to end his Portugal tenure on a winning note.

And he moved a step closer to Euro 2008 success with second half goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Ricardo Quaresma securing victory against the Czechs.

Deco had given them the lead in the eighth minute, only to see it cancelled out by Libor Sionko after 17 minutes.

The later match in Group A looked to be in genuine danger of being abandoned following a torrential rain storm in the first half.

An extended half time break and desperate work from the ground staff meant the pitch was playable in the second half, but the Swiss will wish the game had been called off.

Leading through Hakan Yakin's 32nd minute strike, they were pegged back when Semih Senturk headed in a 57th minute equaliser.

Then with the game looking certain to end level, Arda Turan struck in injury time to send the Swiss crashing out of the tournament.

Swiss coach Kobi Kuhn insisted his team had no reason to be embarrassed despite their early exit.

“We are hugely disappointed but I cannot criticise anyone, neither the players nor anyone else,” he said. “We have lost two matches in an unfortunate way.”

Tweet