The Hindu : Sport : The Scolari strategy

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Tuesday, Jul 04, 2006

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The Scolari strategy

Portugal coach turns to ancient Chinese general for inspiration

A WILY CUSTOMER: Luiz Felipe Scolari during a training session. - PHOTO: AP

MARIENFELD: The basis for the strategy that has won Luiz Felipe Scolari 12 straight games as a coach at the World Cup is not some New Age philosophy — it is more than 2,400 years old. The Art of War by Chinese General Sun Tzu is one of Scolari's favourite books. He says it has helped him to the 2002 World Cup title with his native country and into the semifinals in Germany at the helm of Portugal. Scolari has won every game his teams have played at both tournaments — a streak that has reached a dozen.

With its stress on preparation, discipline, unity, the treatise is a guidebook for some in modern-day business, politics and sports. It is a fitting choice for a manager whose language is flecked with military terms, and whose next adversary is France. "He's enriched us, increased our confidence," Portuguese goalkeeper Ricardo Pereira said on Sunday. "Every ship has its captain, and he's ours."

Scolari was a fearlesscentral defender at clubs in his home state of Rio Grande Do Sul, whose natives are called gauchos (South American cowboys) for their grittiness. His South American soccer schooling made him a hard-nosed coach.

After two of his players were sent off in a 1-0 win against the Netherlands in the second round that featured four red cards and 16 yellows, Scolari labelled his players heroes. "It [was] a typical game for those who don't know the South American game, which is very rough," he said. "It's a war, and today was very similar."

Scolari speaks of how he wants his players to brigar (brawl), though he uses the word figuratively. For him, knockout games are "mata-mata," which translates as "kill, kill" but is meant to convey a sense of do-or-die.

The language of battle is an element of aggression, he says, that gets the job done. It has helped toughen the Portuguese, whose pretty play has never won them anything. "I want my players to show that spirit against all their adversaries, however big a name they are," he said. — AP

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