"I'm hopeful," said Madail. "When Figo announced a year ago that Euro 2004 could be his last national appearance I always said that I was hopeful that he would go back on his decision. And now I believe it even more.

"As for Rui Costa I'm still hopeful."

Costa, 32, made the surprise announcement just before the Euro 2004 final which the hosts lost 1-0 to Greece that he was ending his international career after the tournament.

Figo, 31, who still has two more years on his contract with Spanish giants Real Madrid, said after the final that he would take time to reflect on his future before deciding whether to add to his record 111 caps.

Madail said that the duo "would be missed by the squad. But we have to respect their arguments which are difficult to thwart".

Meanwhile, their 35-year-old former captain Fernando Couto, who holds a Portuguse record 100 caps, has not said whether he intends to continue or retire but the 110-times capped defender was a peripheral figure at the Euro tournament after being dropped following the opening 2-1 defeat by Greece.