rediff.com
News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp

Available on  gplay

Rediff.com  » Sports » Brazil three steps from heaven: Scolari
This article was first published 10 years ago

Brazil three steps from heaven: Scolari

Last updated on: June 29, 2014 15:58 IST

Image: Head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari of Brazil celebrates with Neymar
Photographs: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari said his team were "three steps from heaven" after beating Chile on penalties to reach the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.

The hosts' excruciatingly tense 3-2 penalty win, after the game in Belo Horizonte ended 1-1 following extra-time, left them three games away from lifting the World Cup for a sixth time and exorcising the ghosts of defeat in the 1950 final on home soil.

"We took upon ourselves this mission that we must be champions. If you make a promise you must deliver. This is what the players are doing," Scolari told reporters.

"There are three more (games) to see if we can reach heaven," he added.

-Complete coverage of the Football World Cup...

'In every match, the difficulties are escalating'

Image: Brazil fans pray as they watch their team's 2014 World Cup round of 16 game against Chile, in Brasilia
Photographs: Jorge Silva/Reuters

Scolari praised Chile, who nearly won with a last-minute shot that cannoned off the crossbar, and said Brazil must improve if they were to keep progressing.

"In every match, the difficulties are escalating," the coach said. Brazil now face the winners of Colombia v Uruguay tie.

"The World Cup has shown that teams are very balanced. If you cannot exploit one or two or three chances, as we didn't today, then you might pay the price for that and go out."

'I can't be polite any more'

Image: Thiago Silva, Luiz Gustavo, Ramires, Dani Alves, Jo, Marcelo, Hulk, Willian and Neymar of Brazil look on during a penalty shootout
Photographs: Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Asked about tension between the Brazil and Chile benches during the game, Scolari warned he may abandon a new-found patience and revert to a more explosive style.

At times, the fourth official had to restrain Chile's bench, with assistants to their coach Jorge Sampaoli straying beyond their area and gesticulating aggressively.

"We are being very cordial, very nice and polite to the foreign teams. But perhaps it's time for us to change," he said, alleging someone threw stones at Brazil's dugout.

"They were almost encroaching into our area. It was almost like war, they were waging a battle. I can't hold it in; I can't be polite any more."

'He takes a penalty as if he was playing with friends'

Image: Fans cheer after Brazil scored a goal
Photographs: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Scolari was critical of the mix-up at the back between Hulk and Marcelo that led to Chile's equaliser by Alexis Sanchez in the first half that cancelled out David Luiz's early strike, saying it was unacceptable at international level.

But he piled the praise on his leading forward Neymar.

The 22-year-old striker had a quiet game by his standards but coolly converted his penalty in the shootout.

"He's mature. He has been ready since he was 17 or 18 years old. He is a simple player, he likes playing football.  He takes a penalty as if he was playing with friends," Scolari said, adding that Neymar took a kick on the thigh and will take a few days to recover.

"We will do our best to have him on the pitch for the next match," added Scolari.

Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.