Van Gaal is stupid – Scolari

• Posted on June 24, 2014June 24, 2014
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Fuming Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has branded suggestions that the World Cup hosts could pick and choose their second round opponents as ‘stupid and ill-intentioned’.

Scolari’s blast appeared to be aimed at Holland boss Louis van Gaal, who on Sunday complained about the fact his side were playing before Brazil on Monday – despite having played their opening two games after the hosts.

With echoes of Sir Alex Ferguson, the Dutch coach, who would soon take charge at Old Trafford, complained that Brazil would play their final Group A match against Cameroon in Brasilia four hours after Holland meet Chile in Sao Paulo in Group B.

Van Gaal accused FIFA of dirty ‘tricks’ and a lack of ‘fair play’ by claiming the fixtures give Brazil an advantage because they would know the identity of their likely second round opponents by the time they take on Cameroon.

But Scolari angrily hit back at suggestions his side would do anything other than try to beat Cameroon.

“Some people expressed a view that we were going to choose who we were going to play. Those sorts of comments are either stupid or ill-intentioned, I repeat stupid or ill-intentioned,” said Scolari, raising his finger.

“We have to play to qualify, not pick and choose our opponents. It was FIFA who chose the kick-off time,” Scolari told a news conference.

When the matter was raised again by another reporter, Scolari said, “You are putting emphasis on somebody who is talking nonsense.”

The Group A winners play the Group B runners-up on Saturday, while the second-placed team in Group A meet the Group B winners next Sunday.

Brazil and Mexico have four points in Group A while Croatia have three and Cameroon, who are already eliminated, have none.

Van Gaal had railed against world football’s governing body FIFA and suggested the scheduling of the games disadvantaged the Netherlands.

“FIFA plays these tricks. It’s not a good thing of course. It’s not fair play,” said the Dutchman.

“We’re going to focus on a victory against Chile, and I don’t think that will be affected by the fact that Brazil will be playing after us. I’m just assuming that they will do their sporting duty.”

DM