FORTALEZA: Luis Felipe Scolari, the Brazil manager, on
Thursday night told his detractors that they could "go to hell" and
defiantly claimed that his team would go into tonight's World Cup
quarter-final against Colombia with "one hand on the trophy".
In an extraordinary press conference, Scolari went on the
attack against his critics in the Brazilian media, telling them they had
got it "wrong" in the way they interpreted his use of a psychologist to
help the team deal with the mounting pressure. Former Brazil greats,
including Cafu and Carlos Alberto, have expressed concern at how the
players were in tears during part of last Saturday's dramatic penalty
shoot-out win against Chile.
It was also reported this week that Scolari told a select
group of Brazilian journalists that he wished that he could make one
change in his squad. Scolari claimed the information had been
misinterpreted and suggested that he had excluded some journalists from
the meeting because he did not like them.
"I said at this time in the competition, I could add a player for the
different matches from now onwards," said Scolari. "All the coaches
would like to add someone. They would add because of the characteristics
of the next team but you have 23. We know they would take us to
victory, we know they were selected a long time ago."
Of the meeting with certain journalists, Scolari said:
"There's no way I can go down to talk to everyone. Those who were not
invited it was because maybe I don't like you that much or, at that
time, I didn't want to talk to you. That's what I did in 2002 and I will
continue to do it. Men can't be jealous. No. Please. If you like it,
you like it. If you don't, you don't. Just go to hell."
Brazil will come to a virtual standstill for Friday's
quarter-final, while a national holiday has also been declared in
Colombia.
"We must continue to insist we are going for the final," Scolari
added. "This is a path we're going after and we have the skills to get
there."
Asked if Brazil still had one hand on the trophy, Scolari
said: "Yes. We are on the fifth step. There are seven steps. Those
statements could not be any different. Our supporters don't expect
anything different. They want us to tell them what we want, how we want
to win. It couldn't be any different and shouldn't be any different."
The captain, Thiago Silva, also dismissed the claim, made by
Zico among others, that the players lacked focus amid all the
expectation. Silva was close to tears in the tunnel before the Chile
game, as was Neymar during the national anthem. Victor, the reserve
goalkeeper, handed Julio Cesar a crucifix before the penalty shoot-out.
Such visible emotion has led to criticism of Silva's leadership.
"I don't care what people think because no one knows me,"
Silva said. "I am emotional and it's a natural thing for human beings to
be emotional. It doesn't affect me at any time on the pitch. People are
saying silly things. I have overcome many things in life, not only on
the pitch. I overcame tuberculosis. I was at risk of losing my life, I
am a champion."
Scolari then interjected with an anecdote from when Portugal
knocked England out of the 2004 European Championship quarter-final on
penalties.
"Luis Figo was substituted and in the changing room," he
said. "After the penalties, which we won, people were asking why Figo
was not on the pitch. But Figo had been in the changing room and was in
front of the saint praying for his colleagues. Everyone acts in a
different way. Some pray by bending on one knee, others open hands to
thank God, I kiss my necklace. We have to respect individualities.
Sometimes you can analyse in a different manner."
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