Presiding over Brazil's first loss to England in 23 years caused Luiz Felipe Scolari little concern. In fact, the returning coach saw Wednesday's 2-1 defeat as a good omen. His first stint in charge of the Brazilians in 2001 also opened with a loss, and a year later they were celebrating their fifth World Cup title. And, all that matters now for Scolari is delivering the sixth success on home soil next year.
"I'm used to losing the first game, but after this I'm used to winning games and winning competitions," Scolari said through a translator. "I am not disappointed and I am not sad. As long as we play against strong teams like England, France and Italy we will improve our capacity." Even the notoriously hard-to-please Brazilian media applauded Scolari after his first post-match media conference since being re-hired in November to replace the fired Mano Menezes.
Yet, there was little encouraging news to report back home after an underwhelming performance against an England side which often struggles to impose itself on nations without the stature of Brazil. It was a game England never looked like losing after Ronaldinho had a penalty saved on his 100th appearance for Brazil and Wayne Rooney put the hosts in front midway through the first half. Although Fred seized on sloppiness in the home defense after the break to equalize, Frank Lampard restored England's lead on the hour, curling the ball off the post past goalkeeper Julio Cesar.
England now has to produce similar vigorous, composed displays for the remainder of the World Cup qualifying to ensure that the return friendly in Brazil in June is the warm-up for another trip there for the finals in June 2014. "We've got to get to Brazil," Lampard said. "But if we continue with that attitude and get a bit more flow to our game we should be all right."
source : the jakarta post
source : the jakarta post
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