The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Scolari shrugs off pressure on Brazil return Posted: 29 Nov 2012 06:40 AM PST  Brazilian soccer coach Luiz Felipe Scolari raises his hand during his official presentation as Brazil's new coach for the 2014 World Cup soccer tournament in Rio de Janeiro November 29, 2012. — Reuters pic Scolari, who led Brazil to their fifth and last world title in 2002, was officially presented as coach of the 2014 World Cup hosts, while Carlos Alberto Parreira, in charge when they won their fourth World Cup in 1994, was named technical director. "We have the obligation to win the title; we are not favourites at the moment but we intend to become favourites during the competition," said the man known as Felipao (Big Phil). "Third or fourth place is no good for a country that has won five World Cups." Scolari, who has inherited a young side who are seen as lagging behind teams such as Spain, Argentina and Germany, will have to cope with huge expectations from his 190 million compatriots. Scolari replaced Mano Menezes who was surprisingly sacked last Friday, just as his team appeared to be taking shape. The unveiling comes two days before the draw for the next year's Confederations Cup, also to be hosted in Brazil, in Sao Paulo. Scolari's first game in charge is scheduled to be a friendly away to England in February. Brazil's vast and fickle army of supporters always expect them to win the World Cup and the pressure will be even greater as the country hosts the event. Their failure to win on home soil in 1950 still rankles and the members of that team were never wholly forgiven for losing the decisive match to Uruguay. Scolari said it was water off a duck's back. "If you don't like pressure, it's better to go and work in the Bank of Brazil, or outside on the corner or sit in an office and do nothing," he said. "It would not be right if there was no pressure and the players thought the target was just to play at the World Cup. Sixth title "This would be one of our most important titles — the sixth title, at home at our second opportunity." Scolari said he felt under much greater pressure when he took over for the first time in 2001 when Brazil were in danger of missing out on the following year's World Cup. "It would have been the first time that Brazil would have missed a World Cup, that was when I felt under pressure," he said. Scolari, 64, and Parreira, 69, both said they felt rejuvenated by the challenge. "I feel like a young boy, starting all over again," said Parreira, who also coached Brazil at the 2006 World Cup when they reached the quarterfinals. "The Brazil team does you good, all that adrenalin. It's a marvellous challenge, to come back to the team for a World Cup here in Brazil, you can't describe it." Both pointed to their past experience in Brazil and abroad. Scolari has led Portugal at three major tournaments and coached in England, Uzbekistan, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, while Parreira has coached the national sides of Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia at the World Cup. Scolari was proud of his record with Portugal who had a reputation for underachieving before he took over. "We revolutionised the relationship with the supporters," said Scolari. "I maybe didn't win anything but the work we did was worth more than 10 or 20 titles." Former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola had been suggested as a possible replacement for Menezes but Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) president Jose Maria Marin said there was ample domestic talent. "We have won all of our titles with Brazilian coaches who have taken their knowledge beyond these frontiers," he said. "Our country has a great number of competent coaches who deserve to hold this position." — Reuters |
| High-flying Atletico Madrid seeking Real scalp Posted: 29 Nov 2012 04:10 AM PST  Atletico Madrid's coach Diego Simeone gestures during their Spanish first division soccer match against Getafe at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid, November 11, 2012. — Reuters pic The combative Argentine, who helped Atletico to the league and King's Cup double as a player in 1996, has transformed the Spanish capital's second club since taking over from Gregorio Manzano in December 2011. The Europa League champions are three points behind leaders Barcelona after 13 matches and, unbelievably for many of their long-suffering supporters, eight ahead of stuttering Real, who slipped to a third defeat of the campaign at Real Betis last weekend that left their title defence in serious peril. Simeone, a tough-tackling midfielder sometimes described as "playing with a knife between his teeth", has given his players added steel and in Colombia striker Radamel Falcao they have a genuine goal scorer who has attracted the attention of the sport's big spenders. Turkey playmaker Arda Turan is also having an impressive season, linking well with Falcao and scoring goals of his own, while the defensive line has a solidity that has been sorely lacking in recent years. "I think bringing in Simeone has been a success for Atletico," Real captain Iker Casillas said yesterday. "He has given them a new spirit and no one has gifted him anything," added the Spain goalkeeper. "Falcao is a great player. He was a very successful signing and is a very complete, natural finisher." Claudio Ranieri was the last Atletico coach to savour victory over Real, when former Netherlands striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink scored twice in a 3-1 away triumph in 1999. A win or even a draw on Saturday could spell the end of Real's hopes of a second straight La Liga title and Casillas is well aware of what is at stake. "It is a different match from previous seasons," he said. "They are coming to the Santiago Bernabeu with a very strong team and after a win in a very tough match against Sevilla, who beat us. "We hoped that there would be less of distance between us, but hopefully at the end of the match that advantage will be cut to five points. Any aim other than winning is no good for us." Real's Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho was whistled by some sections of the Bernabeu crowd during Tuesday's Cup victory and their reaction on Saturday will be closely watched. The team's erratic form has prompted speculation the former Inter Milan and Chelsea manager will not last the season, with almost 70 percent of voters in an internet survey conducted by As sports daily saying they believed he would be gone by May. "The club is the club and is in charge and I'm just an employee trying to do their best," Mourinho told a news conference previewing the Cup match on Monday. "The club has to decide if it is happy with the path we're on and we'll get to the end of season calmly," he added. "It is possible that at the end of the season the club will not be happy with my work and that things have to change." Well rested Unbeaten Barca, meanwhile, will seek a 13th win in 14 games and look to increase the pressure on Atletico and Real when struggling Athletic Bilbao visit the Nou Camp a couple of hours before the Madrid derby. Barca's World Player of the Year Lionel Messi has another chance to get closer to, or even overhaul, the record for the number of goals scored in a calendar year of 85 set by Germany and Bayern Munich striker Gerd Mueller 40 years ago. The Argentine forward is on 82 after his double at Levante last weekend and should be well rested after sitting out Wednesday's King's Cup match at home to third-tier Alaves. Also on Saturday, fourth-placed Malaga, four points behind Real, play at Getafe, while 11th-placed Valencia, through to the last 16 of the Champions League but struggling domestically, are at home to Real Sociedad. Mexican Javier Aguirre will take charge of his first match since replacing the sacked Mauricio Pochettino when Espanyol play at Granada on Sunday. — Reuters |
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