FIFA Confederations Cup: Scolari insists Brazil on track after gutsy win

Paulinho scores late winner as the Selecao edge past Uruguay in semi-final.

BELO HORIZONTE: Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari conceded his team cannot yet start dreaming of a sixth World Cup title next year — but they are now just one match away from a third straight Confederations Cup success after edging out Uruguay.

It was not pretty, and Scolari admitted as much after an oddly uninspired Selecao dug out a 2-1 success over the Celeste, who have haunted them ever since a World Cup final success over the Samba stars in Rio 63 years ago.

“I think we are on the right road,” said ‘Big Phil’ after a Paulinho header saw them drag themselves over the line when it seemed Uruguay, having levelled Fred’s bundled opener shortly before the break with a fine Edinson Cavani finish, looked as if they might repeat their 1950 exploits.

“We are putting together a group which is on the right track.”

The Confederations event is but a dress rehearsal and on taking the job seven months ago, 11 years on from World Cup glory in Japan, Scolari insisted the ongoing event is a sideshow and should not detract from the true aim of a success in 12 months time.

After some patchy form going into the event, Brazil looked to have found something of their traditional samba rhythm with entertaining wins over Japan, Mexico and Italy in the group stage.

But by their exalted standards, Wednesday was all about winning ugly — which did not unduly concern Scolari.

“We have to grow as a team and mature. We need games to do so,” he told reporters.

Midfielder Oscar said the Brazilians knew Uruguay would be a hard nut to crack.

“They have three of the world’s best strikers [but] what was important was we knew how to respond,” said the Chelsea attacker.

Scolari, meanwhile, thanked the fans for acting as the ‘12^th man’.

“It was the fans who pulled us to the winning post,” he said. “They kept the players strong when the going got tough. We will now prepare for the final and do the best we can.”

Spain favourites for title: Uruguay coach

Uruguayan counterpart Oscar Tabarez saw his team denied – not least by Brazilian keeper Julio Cesar saving Diego Forlan’s early spotkick when the scoreline was goalless – taking his winless streak over Brazil to five matches.

Tabarez was sanguine, saluting his men’s ‘passion’ and insisting they would learn from the loss as they try to find some form to reignite a rocky World Cup qualifying campaign.

Asked for his view on the final, he indicated that Spain should complete the line-up and win their first title for a fourth straight major tournament success.

“Spain are the team of the decade,” said Tabarez. “I am very curious to see how [the final] pans out.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28^th, 2013.

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