As hosts of the 2014 World Cup, Brazil’s only option is to win the ultimate championship, according to national coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.
“In Brazil, we only have one option -- winning,” the Tuesday edition of Brazilian daily O Globo cited Scolari as saying, reports Xinhua.
The coach added, however, “There’s no pressure. The players are relaxed. If someone is better than we are, we will accept it. But to be better than Brazil, they will have to show it.”
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The veteran coach, who led Brazil to their fifth World Cup win in 2002, when the games were co-hosted by Japan and Korea, said he was more relaxed going into the championship this time around.
“I feel very confident, because that was my first Cup. Our team didn’t have everything as well planned as it does now. We didn’t have a team with a defined playing style. That’s why, I’m more relaxed,” said Scolari.
Asked what his biggest challenge was right now, with less than a month to go before the start of the World Cup June 12, Scolari said, “putting a stop to everyone’s anxiety in Brazil”.
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“If we only had to play against anxiety, and not against Croatia, there would be no problem at all,” said Scolari, praising the rivals.
Croatian “team has quality, works the ball very well (and) is well positioned,” he said.
Croatia are ranked 20th in the world, while Brazil ranks fourth.