We can help build a better Brazil: Scolari

Brazil’s football team can help to build a better country as the giant nation wrestles with social unrest amid demands for political reform, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said on Tuesday. ‘This is a crucial moment for the Brazilian team,’ said Scolari as he looked forward to Wednesday’s Confederations Cup semifinal in Belo Horizonte against South American champions Uruguay. ‘The things we are doing to build a better country will not be in vain if we can keep this up. Find a better life together and not fighting against each other. Then we can live in the country we always longed for,’ said Scolari, waxing lyrical on the power of the game to unite a nation.

More than 1.5 million Brazilians have demonstrated against poor public services and corruption in recent days and some marches have turned violent. Although the government has promised reforms and increased spending, many protesters are still expected in Belo Horizonte, where 70,000 hit the streets last Saturday. The five-time world champions turned to Scolari, 64, for a second time seven months ago as the country’s Football Confederation - and fans - fretted on how to find the winning recipe at next year’s World Cup finals on home soil

Scolari also emphasised the importance of the fans getting right behind them. ‘I feel the Brazilian fans have been very good to us everywhere we have been so far. They realise the team needs support and when we were in trouble they carried us in their arms! Maybe the fans were not always 100 percent convinced.’agencies