Soccer: Germany face 170 million Brazilians in final says Scolari

Germany will face 170 million Brazilians in the World Cup soccer final on Sunday.

Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has used photos of fans crying, cheering and celebrating to motivate his team and remind them they are playing for their compatriots back home as well as themselves.

"It's 90 minutes in which not just we, but the entire population, are playing so there is nothing more just than winning the World Cup," goalkeeper Marcos said.

"Before every game, we watch a tape showing Brazilians on the streets, the people celebrating when we score, the Brazilian people suffering when we concede a goal.

"There's nothing better to encourage you than to see the Brazilians who are suffering with you.

The move appears to be another psychological masterstroke by Scolari who is determined to banish the in-fighting and control the towering egos which have wrecked past Brazilian campaigns.

Scolari has carefully controlled his players' comments to the media, so much so that they often appear to be reading a script he has prepared when they give interviews.

Players invariably repeat comments about respecting the oppostion, playing for each other and taking each game as it comes.

Belittling the opposition is expressly banned and criticising a team-mate would almost certainly lead to an early flight home.

Although Scolari rants at his players during the match, he defends them to the hilt in front of the media.

Scolari has also advised his players not to read Brazilian newspaper sites on the internet so they are not exposed to the criticism often heaped upon them, even when they win.

"Here in the hotel, we don't have much notion of what is happening outside," Roberto Carlos said before yesterday's 1-0 semifinal win over Turkey.

"The only thing I can say about the outside world is that we have seen all the pictures of Brazil.

"We have seen children waking up in the middle of the night to watch the games, schools having parties, we have seen the people on the streets, messages from the Brazilian supporters for us.

"You can't feel bad. There's no way you can stop and think: "I can't stand this any more."

"You stand it because on the last day of the competition you have a chance to reward the supporters' affection by winning the title."

- REUTERS

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