adminTERESOPOLIS, Brazil. — Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari’s right-hand man said on Monday that Brazil were good enough to win the World Cup soccer title and already had “one hand on the trophy.”Asked what he had learned in previous World Cups, from his back room role in Brazil’s 1970 triumph to his success at the 1994 finals, Carlos Alberto Parreira said that getting things right off the field was crucial.
“That’s not easy. It entails the operational side of things, logistics, planning, the relationship with the fans, the media, the working atmosphere,” said the 71-year-old team technical co-ordinator.
“We have already achieved that, therefore we already have one hand on the trophy. We are favourites — but of course that is not enough to win. Look how many favourites fell by the wayside in the past.
“We have a great team, the team is very good. We are confident in these players — just look at the team we have,” said Parreira, who led the Selecao to glory in 1994 before Scolari added Brazil’s fifth World Cup crown in 2002.
Parreira said the traditionally attack-minded Brazilians have a rock-solid central defensive partnership in David Luiz and Thiago Silva, whom the former will join next season at Paris Saint-Germain to bolster their hopes.
Brazil famously lost the 1950 trophy match at home to Uruguay, but Parreira said that only redoubled their zeal to win their sixth title this time and put right an anomaly. — AFP.
Online Reporter