“They acted in the spirit of the World Cup – to make friends.”

Scolari has many friends in the game, none more so than those he remembers from the final of the 2002 World Cup.

Then, Scolari was in charge of Brazil while Oliver Kahn was the Germany goalkeeper who gifted Ronaldo the opening goal with a fumble at the Brazilian striker’s feet.

It was Kahn’s turn to come out no top last night and Scolari paid tribute to the Bayern Munich shot-stopper, who announced his retirement from the international game immediately after the match.

“We spent a whole World Cup (2002) getting to know each other and you gain respect,” he said.

“He told me: 'If only this happened four years ago,’ but to be honest I’m not sad that it didn’t.

“It is the friendships like these that makes the magic in football.”

While Kahn left the international stage in an emotional farewell, Luis Figo was denied the opportunity to make his swansong in the national team.

“Figo has a problem from an injury he suffered in the England game,” explained Scolari, referring to Figo’s omission from the starting eleven.

“He made a great effort to play against France and we still felt that, had this been the final, he would have played even if all the muscles in his leg had been torn for a year, but not today.

“We didn’t want to risk worsening the injury, but we needed him in the end.”

The Inter Milan winger played just over 10 minutes at the end, but refused to say whether that was his last 10 minutes for Portugal.

“I will now have to consider what happens next and talk about my future,” he said.

Scolari was equally coy when it came to discussing his own future, saying: “The World Cup has finished today and it is only from this day forward that I can start thinking about the future.

“I have to wait and see what the (Portuguese Football Association) president says when I come back from a little time off.

“We will have to wait and see, like I say, I have not decided yet and I don’t think the president has either.”