In Portugal's two Group A matches to date, they have been level at half-time but have struck twice in the second half to clinch the points.

Pepe and Raul Meireles did the job in Saturday's 2-0 win over Turkey, while Cristiano Ronaldo and substitute Ricardo Quaresma made the difference against the Czechs after Libor Sionko had cancelled out Deco's early opener.

Scolari said: "This squad is very well prepared in physical terms. They do what I tell them to do.

"They might have a few shortcomings but they are minor shortcomings, technical things I want to improve.

"The fitness team has been working well with these players and their fitness levels have been very high.

"Both second-half performances were great so I am delighted. My players keep going for 90 minutes, which is very good."

The Brazilian would not reveal the secret of his half-time team-talk but was thrilled with how his players carried out his instructions.

"My squad struggled like hell in the first half," he admitted.

"We had to show the opposing team that we know how to impose ourselves and play aggressively through two touches because that is our forte.

"I also wanted Simao [Sabrosa] and Cristiano to go to midfield and not be just on the wings. I told them to use their strength and work hard and really concentrate.

"They understood what I meant and did exactly what I told them to do."

Scolari, who will leave his post after Euro 2008 to take up the Chelsea reins on July 1, was particularly pleased to see how well his young team have gelled together.

"It's a reason to be proud," said Scolari, whose team only secured their place in Switzerland and Austria with a draw in their final qualifier against Finland.

"When you build a new team, you have to do things you didn't do in qualifying. Now I have got a good, solid team and I am very satisfied because our team had a wonderful, spectacular, physical performance.

"I again pay tribute to our fitness staff.

"Our players, their eyes are shining. They are supporting each other.

"There are small things I want to adjust, little details here and there that need to be ironed out. But this type of victory gives me the opportunity to organise my team for the match against Switzerland."

Sunday's clash with the Swiss in Basle will now have little at stake other than pride, with Turkey's victory over the co-hosts in yesterday's late game seeing Kobi Kuhn's side eliminated and assuring Portugal will advance as pool winners.

Nevertheless, Scolari will not let his players rest on their laurels.

"We are more relaxed now because we have passed this stage so we are very satisfied and I can say that we are among the eight best squads in Europe," he said.

"Of course, we want more than that, so let's wait and see."

Chelsea defender Paulo Ferreira was not getting carried away either, and expects the Swiss to come out all guns blazing looking for their first points of the tournament on Sunday.

The 29-year-old right-back said: "We have to enjoy this victory. It was very important because it means we have already qualified for the next stage and we are very happy about that.

"We will start again and prepare for the next game.

"Switzerland have a good team, young players with quality."

Czech coach Karel Bruckner defended his decision not to use Vaclav Sverkos against Portugal despite the substitute's decisive goal in the curtain-raiser against Switzerland last weekend.

Bruckner opted to start with Milan Baros up front in place of Jan Koller, with the Nurnberg frontman introduced 17 minutes from time as the Czechs chased an equaliser

Bruckner said: "Baros had enough strength, I didn't feel Baros was struggling towards the end.

"It wasn't possible to bring on Sverkos as unfortunately there was no room for him in our line-up. We had our strategy and he did not fit into that.

"You might think five strikers is a good idea - I simply do not think so... I'm sorry about that!"

Bruckner felt Deco played a vital role in his team's demise, the Brazil-born schemer scoring the first and laying on the second for Ronaldo.

"Deco is a strong player, no doubt about that," he said. "He was possibly the best player in this match.

"He's a high-quality player, he knows how to take responsibility.

"He is the brain of the Portuguese team, and whenever Deco or Ronaldo had the ball we had to defend, which was difficult."

The Czechs next face Turkey at the Stade de Geneve in a clash that will determine who finishes second in the group.