The Hindu : Coach's pat for Samba ensemble

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 18, 2002

Sport

Sport - Football

Coach's pat for Samba ensemble

Kobe June 17. Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari praised Brazil today for showing unity and working as a team to overcome Belgium 2-0 and set up a World Cup quarterfinal against England.

``It was exactly what I expected. It was work done by the whole ensemble of a team,'' he said. ``I feel I have a family, a unity and dedication now.''

Scolari cautioned last week that individual players would not win the World Cup, it must be a team effort.

That he said meant even luminaries like Rivaldo and Ronaldo, today's goalscorers, must fulfil their roles in the game plan, which includes playing defence if necessary, something neither is accustomed to.

In training Scolari has been drilling his superstar squad in chasing down balls and winning possession and said he was pleased that they worked so hard today on that aspect of their game.

``This team goes after the ball, it fights every minute of the game,'' he said, adding that he knew what Belgium were capable of and worked hard on tactics in the days ahead of the clash.

``We knew how Belgium played and especially the high balls in. We prepared for that,'' he said.

``We played first to avoid giving away goals.'' — AFP

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport