Brazil coach wary of clash with Chile

BRAZIL coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has insisted that his side are getting better all the time, but acknowledged that a last-16 tie against Chile was not what he wanted.

The World Cup hosts clinched first place in Group A after a Neymar- inspired 4-1 win against already eliminated Cameroon.

And the result ensured that they would face Group B runners-up Chile, beaten 2-0 by the Netherlands.

"I feel good now that we have qualified and I am thinking about my team. I know that they are going to keep improving," Scolari said after seeing Neymar score twice and Fred and Fernandinho also find the net.

"I have played against Chile two times before and I know how difficult a side they are. Some people think we will beat Chile easily but they are a quality side.

"If I could have chosen our opponents I would not have chosen them," Scolari said.

Brazil and Chile are familiar foes, having met each other twice in friendly matches since the return of Scolari for a second spell as coach.

In April last year, the sides drew 2-2 at the Mineriao in Belo Horizonte, the same stadium where they will meet on Saturday.

Then, in November last year, Brazil emerged 2-1 winners in a friendly played in Canada.

Those results indicate that this encounter will be a tough one to call, especially with Chile having impressed in qualifying from their group ahead of 2010 world champions Spain.

And Chile will be eager to get revenge for defeats suffered at the hands of Brazil in the last 16 in each of their last two appearances at the World Cup.

In 1998, Brazil won 4-1 in Paris, while in 2010 they triumphed 3-0 in Johannesburg.

Current form suggests this should be a much closer affair, but Scolari is pleased with the way his side have improved since the start of the tournament as they progress from their group with seven points taken from a possible nine.

"We are almost at the ideal level and it is important to be at that level going into the knockout rounds," Scolari, who coached Brazil to glory at the 2002 World Cup, said.

"Now we need to commit fewer mistakes. In the group stage you can get away with slipping up once as long as you win your other two matches. Now you can't afford to because one goal can decide a match."

Brazil will return briefly to their training base in Teresopolis, outside Rio de Janeiro, to prepare for the clash with Chile and Scolari will consider possible changes to his starting lineup.

He is likely to remain loyal to Fred, the under-fire striker who broke his World Cup scoring duck with Brazil's third goal against Cameroon, but Fernandinho made a compelling case for inclusion in the starting lineup after his fine performance as a substitute.

The Manchester City midfielder, 29, replaced off-colour Paulinho at half time and had a part in Fred's goal before completing the scoring late on.

"Fernandinho made a timely contribution, both defensively and in attack. He works well every day in training," Scolari said.

"We depend on Neymar like Argentina depend on [Lionel] Messi. The top-level players make the difference in all teams and Neymar participates in so much of what we do." – AFP