Luiz Felipe Scolari the man most responsible for Portugal's Euro exit

Luiz Felipe Scolari has kept its hands as the man most responsible for Portugal at Euro 2008 exit at the hands of Germany, then insisted on the date of announcement of his transfer to Chelsea was not been a factor.

Portugal have been dumped on the tournament with a 3-2 loss to Germany in an exciting quarter-finals on the new sod laid in Basel's St Jakob-Park, bringing a disappointing end to the Brazilian five years of occupation.

Scolari, who will become director of Chelsea on July 1, saw his side lose two of their games in Switzerland Stamford Bridge since his appointment was confirmed last week.

But 59 years denied claims news of his departure had affected his team.

"If I had not announced, we would have lost anyway," he said.

"We lost because we did not do things with sufficient quality.

"It has nothing to do with this or that. Some people will think and write, but it has nothing to do with it. "

Bastian Schweinsteiger scored one and set up two others - to Miroslav Klose and Michael Ballack - make Nuno Gomes effort to end the first half and replacement Helder Postiga towards full-time a little more than consolations.

Scolari did not seek to transfer responsibility for Portugal exit, however.

"I am responsible for choosing players and place them on the ground in some places, so that the person most responsible for Portugal are not in the past four Portugal is the coach, who chooses players and tactics, "he said.

"I am very sad because the Portuguese team could be in the last four. But in this game, a game point, we had some lapses in attention which means we could not get the result we wanted. "

Scolari was left to rue the fact Germany captain Ballack escaped with a push to the back of his Chelsea teammate Paulo Ferreira for what proved to be the decisive third goal.

"I do not know if it would have changed things (if the target had been rejected) - May we still lost 2-1," said South America.

"But when we are pressing the opponents and we concede a third goal, we have to start all over again and opponents are starting to grow in stature.

"I can not guarantee that would have changed the history of the game, but if it is a fault, it must be given".