Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari believes his team can grow into a great side after seeing his Neymar-inspired outfit sweep past Japan 3-0 in their Confederations Cup opener.
Never a man to get carried away, 2002 World Cup winner Scolari was visibly pleased after the Selecao sent the Asian champions packing in Brasilia in their Group A clash.
“I believe what pleased me most was the result,” said Scolari, the man to whom Brazil impatiently turned ahead of the Confederations Cup draw last November after dumping Mano Menezes shortly after the latter had overseen a 4-0 friendly win over the Japanese.
“If we can keep evolving tactically, and the players can deal with whatever gets thrown at them, then we can be a great team.
“I think Neymar did a really great job — he went off as he took a knock,” Scolari added, referring to the Barcelona-bound starlet. Scolari alluded to the difficulty of keeping demanding fans of the Selecao happy by saying that “if you can score in the opening three minutes then of course the crowd is going to be more friendly to us and get behind us.”
With Mexico, their Olympic final conquerors, to come on Wednesday before a showdown with three-time world champions Italy, Scolari said Brazil must not think they already have a foot in the semi-finals.
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Lahiri falters, ends tied 10th at queen’s cup
Samui, June 16: A disastrous front nine saw Anirban Lahiri falter in the final round of the Queen’s Cup and lose the chance of making a bid for his first Asian Tour outside his home turf.
Lahiri with a final round of 75 totalled four-under 280 and finished in a tie for 10th place.
Lahiri dropped no less than three bogeys and a double bogey in his five-over 41 for the front nine. Birdies on 15th and 18th just about ensured a top-10 for Lahiri.
Rahil Gangjee also suffered a setback on the day with five-over 76 that saw him drop to tied 47th.
Meanwhile, Prayad Marksaeng finally tamed the beast of Samui when he landed two eagles as he edged out compatriot Arnond Vongvanij by three shots to win the event.
Prayad closed with an eagle to win with a final round four-under 67. PTI