Luiz Felipe Scolari’s interview

March 22nd, 2006 | by: Euler Costa | View Comments

As I’m waiting to see what Germany will do to beat USA, Big Phil was live on TV giving an interview. He is here at Brazil giving motivational presentations to get an extra money.

About Brazilian goalkeepers:
“I’m not Brazil’s coach. That’s Parreira’s job. I don’t like to talk about other people’s work as I don’t like anyone to talk about mine.”

Portugal:
“We have a very strong and fit team. The Brazilian potential replacements is greater in numbers. In the Portugal team we have to be much more careful because we don’t have that many players available. We don’t have the curriculum either. Until today we only got once to the final of the Eurocup.”
“I admit that’s better not to get there as favorites. There is less pressure and it’s easier to work the psychological aspect of the players. To be fourth for Portugal will be history, to be fourth for Brazil is unacceptable. Anyway, if you can get to the fourth position, you can win as well. Eurocup showed that teams without great World Cup tradition can also win. Greece won, right?”

Brazil:
“I don’t want to coach Brazil again. It’s an amazing feeling to be there at the competition, but we cannot see that far into the future. That feeling got me into the Portugal job. Maybe I’ll try to go a third time for another team, but that’s not for sure.”

Ronaldo:
“I expect the best from Ronaldo. I know he will be perfectly fit for the World Cup as he was in 2002. He will be again one of the greatests. When he plays with joy, he is fantastic. ”

Crisis:
“Animosities can bring disturbance to a team. Beckenbauer and Klinsmann should not attack each other before the World Cup. Our 2002 team was formed under a brotherhood atmosphere, and that’s what I’m trying to do with Portugal.”

Japan’s coach Zico said that until the anthem he is Brazilian. After that he is Japanese:
“I will sing both anthems with pride. I’m very well treated in Portugal, my kids go to school there and I want to keep them there. All my life is there too. At this moment I am more Portuguese than Brazilian. If our teams meet, I don’t know how I’ll feel, but I always sing Portugal’s anthem.”

Favoritism:
“Italy is playing well, England and Holland have good teams and Argentina is very good at the moment. Brazil? Don’t even talk about it! I think there will be no surprises.”

Preparation:
“I’m feeling a lot more confortable now than in 2002, when I was a freshman. Things are in the right path so far.”

Players in clubs:
“Nobody will ease up on their club work now, but when the time comes they will have to dedicate 100% to the national team.”

Ronaldinho:
“He is already among the top 10 list of best Brazilian players, no matter what he does at this World Cup. He will be like so for more 8 to 10 years.”