Scolari's future in doubt

Scolari says the beautiful game is dead

By BBC Sport Online's Tim Vickery

Brazil were being held 0-0 at half time in their recent World Cup qualifier at home to Chile.

Meanwhile, in Montevideo Uruguay were a goal up against Colombia.

Had the scores stayed that way, then one of the biggest shocks in football would have been a genuine possibility.

Even winning their final two games would bring no guarantee of Brazil finishing in the top four automatic qualification slots.

An awkward home and away play-off against Australia was beckoning.

But Colombia hit back to equalise against Uruguay, Brazil scored two second-half goals against Chile, and normal service was resumed in the world of football.

There was little impressive about Brazil's victory, however, and coach Luiz Felipe Scolari found himself under pressure in the post-match press conference.

Why were his side falling so short of the standards set by the greats of the past?

Different worlds

Between 1958 and 70 Brazil enchanted the globe winning three out of four World Cups in wonderful style.

In those days, said Scolari, "you could tie up a dog with a sausage" - a surrealist expression meaning that everything was easy.

The comment has provoked a lively debate inside Brazilian football.

Gerson, midfield master of the 1970 team, asked a pertinent question.

If playing football in the past was so easy, why was Scolari nothing more than a journeyman centre half?

The mediocre defender has become an undeniably successful coach - at club level.

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But he is finding out the hard way that coaching the Brazil side is something completely different.

In the contemporary Brazilian club game, the end justifies the means.

Scolari's teams marked tightly, fouled frequently and won plenty of titles.

It made no difference that the coach openly declared his lack of interest in the beautiful game.

In his current post, it makes all the difference in the world.

The famous yellow shirt is the most potent symbol of the Brazilian nation, and has to be handled with caution.

Cheering on the national team in a World Cup is a patriotic duty.

All over the giant country the people cry out for success with style.

Brazil's public are not the only ones hoping for a healthy dose of the beautiful game.

Borrowed time

The strategy of the sponsors is based on the fact that Brazil are everyone else's second favourite team.

People all over the planet are willing to be seduced into buying a shirt.

But perhaps not so willing if the coach spends much of his time calling for his players to commit more fouls and learn better time-wasting tactics.

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Scolari came into the job with Brazil in crisis, and desperate times called for desperate measures.

Although he has performed no miracles, he has edged Brazil closer to safety.

But the closer he gets, the less secure his job seems.

Rumours of his replacement have been flying recently.

And after the Chile game Scolari admitted that he was not sure he would be taking the team to Japan and South Korea.

Will Brazil really go to the World Cup with a coach who says that the beautiful game is dead?