Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was certain that his team tried their best against Germany as the hosts were decimated 7-1 by the three time World Cup winners at the Estadio Mineirao in Bolo Horizonte.
Scolari had taken the Selecao to World Cup victory in the 2002 World Cup but had been constantly criticized by the Brazilian media for dubious selections at this World Cup despite taking them to the semi-finals.
Scolari acknowledged the support of the Selecao supporters and gave a message to them in his post match press conference after suffering a hammering blow at the hands of Germany.
“I am sorry we could not reach our goal,“ said Scolari. ”The fans supported us even when we were 5, 6, or 7 down against Germany.”
“My message for the Brazilian people and fans is that we tried to do what we ever we could. We gave our best against a great team.”
Scolari also admitted that only he should be blamed for Brazil’s demise.
“I am responsible responsible for this,“ he admitted. ”I am the coach for this catastrophic result.
“I chose the players and the tactics. It’s my fault. I was the one who made the choices for this match.”
He also conceded his inability to change the course of the game.
“After the first goal went in, they scored four goals in four minutes. We still had some changes at 5-0. After that, we tried to score a consolation to secure a respectable defeat. But we lost in a poor fashion.
“It was one goal after another. I forget who blanked out. We tried to talk to them [the Brazil players] and organize them. But, nothing changed in our favor.
The former Chelsea manager also complimented the German team for winning.
“Germany won because of the skills of their players. We said it to each other after the game how could we [Brazil] do this? Germany are a great team.
“Do I regret anything? I do not have any regrets. There is no regret or no reason to expect something different from them[Germany].
“I thought we were ready to close their midfield. Everything was organized before first goal. During those ten minutes nothing worked out and Germany were fantastic.
“This German quality was too much for us to handle. They found spaces, used those opportunities and scored. They already have five or six [players] with 120 caps for their national team
“Germany played their best match at the World Cup and we played our worst. That was the difference.”
The coach was also asked if the same team would participate in the next major tournaments for Brazil.
“Should we have to reinvent our team after one game? I don’t think so and I am certain half this team will play at the 2018 World Cup with at least 13-15 of them participating in 2018.
“We have to sit down and analyze things. We have to know how to react after this defeat.”
He was also asked if Neymar would have made a difference in this game and about the training Brazil adopted in the build up to this this game.
“Neymar would have not made a difference to defend all of those goals. Germany would have done this to us regardless of Neymar.
“We tried to memorize those rules in training ahead of playing today. Germany negatively influenced my team. It has nothing to do with Neymar or walking in public together.
“Germany messed up our emotional state. It was a day when everything Germany did, worked well in their favor. I thought it was over after the third, fourth or fifth goal but I still think we could have scored a goal or two.”
Scolari also confessed that this is the lowest moment of his career and spoke of what can be done to salvage a third place at this World Cup.
“This is probably my worst moment. If I think of my life as a coach and as a physical education teacher, this was the worst day of my life.
“There is nothing we can do now in the changing room over the last hour or next two. No one expected this result. Life goes on an there is nothing we can do now.
“But we must work to get ready for our third place match on Saturday.”
Brazil will now face the losers of the second semi-final between Argentina and Netherlands in third place playoff at Estadio Nacional de Brasilia in Brasilia on July 12.
