Brazil 2002 vintage still tasty

Rivaldo has scored in every game of the competition

By John Sinnott BBC Sport Online

It is a sign of England's growing confidence in this World Cup that Brazil, unlike in previous tournaments, have been increasingly portrayed as mere mortals.

So the argument goes England will never have a better chance to beat Brazil in Friday's quarter-final and revenge World Cup defeats in 1962 and 1970.

There is a physical threat about Scolari. The players are frightened of him and in that respect he is very like Alex Ferguson

Simon Clifford

Apparently Brazil are defensively weak, have a midfield that cannot pass very well and are overly reliant on Rivaldo and Ronaldo in attack.

Win unmasks Brazil

In short Luiz Felipe Scolari's team are a pale imitation of previous Brazilian sides who since 1958 have won the World Cup a record four times.

But Brazilian football expert Simon Clifford insists that this argument has been overstated and warns that Brazil have yet to shift out of "second gear".

A former school teacher, Clifford has been responsible for the development of futebol de salao - a Brazilian training technique - throughout Britain, which is now being played by 25,000 schoolchildren.

Futebol de salao is played on a basketball-size court with a smaller, heavier ball rather than the conventional one.

The likes of Juninho, Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Juninho, Ronaldinho and Denilson all honed their close ball control by playing this small-sided game.

Cafu praises England

"I think this Brazilian team has been unfairly criticised," says Clifford, who is also a close friend of Juninho.

"No team has 11 great players. How many people could name Brazil's starting 11 which won the World Cup in 1970? People only remember Pele, Jairzinho, Tostao and Carlos Alberto.

"Likewise the same applies to the 1982 team which everybody raves about.

Brazil had four months preparation in 1970

"The criticism of the current defence has also been overdone.

"Yes the fact that they play three central defenders is unpopular in Brazil, but more often that not one of these defenders is always looking to move into midfield.

"Brazil's biggest problem with their defenders is that their training, particularly at club level, isn't geared to defensive work.

"It's all about ball work in Brazil. The philosophy is that you are trained to be a good footballer, rather than a good defender."

Clifford also insists that Scolari's team stands comparison with some of the great past Brazilian sides.

"The 1970 team weren't fantastic defensively," says Clifford.

"You only have to watch the mistake that lead to Italy's goal in that final in Mexico City to see that.

"This current team is also much stronger in attack than the 1982 team.

"Twenty years ago Brazil didn't have a good finisher and Zico was expected to do everything, whereas in Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Juninho there is a vast array of attacking options."

Scolari has been heavily criticised for his sometimes cynical approach to the game, but Clifford says the Brazilian coach has provided plenty of positives as well.

Zico was let down by Brazil's attack in 1982

"Unlike the 1998 team when players didn't get on with one another, this squad is a very together group and that is thanks to Scolari.

"He is a disciplinarian. There is a physical threat with him and the players are frightened of him. In that respect he is very like Alex Ferguson.

Classic England v Brazil clashes

"His more pragmatic approach is also useful in that it reins in the players as well."

Even so, Clifford does admit that England will provide the sternest test that Brazil have faced in this tournament.

"Scolari's playing three at the back because he doesn't trust Roberto Carlos and Cafu defensively.

"Brazil also miss Emerson who was injured just before the competition started. He was the team's talker and the organiser.

"Juninho is also being played out of position and he is too preoccupied with what he should be doing defensively. Rather than taking on players he is looking to pass.

"Ronaldinho has also yet to show that is the "new Pele". He hasn't quite lived up to the billing, but Scolari will stick with him."