Former Brazil defender Juliano Belletti has revealed what he thinks Luiz Felipe Scolari will be doing in the week leading up to the first match of the World Cup.
Brazil open the tournament with an intriguing game against Croatia and Belletti feels the national team head coach will get his squad focused on their opponents.
The former Barcelona man was quoted by Globo after speaking on a Brazilian TV programme. Belletti looked back upon the experience he faced at the start of the triumphant 2002 World Cup.
He said: “Before the opening match, with anxiety, you think about the bad things. You think about how you will respond in the event of defeat. This helps to prepare.
“Scolari worked very well with this. During the week of the opener, he does not let players train more or less.
“He puts each player in the head of Croatia players, that way, they know how to respond.”
Belletti won various club honours during his time with Barcelona and he has discussed how compatriot Neymar can handle the pressure during this summers spectacle.
Belletti said: “I like Neymar, 22 years old, can he overcome this? He always answers the ball.
“He is criticized? He is booed? He goes on the pitch and gives a show. His head is a winning mentality.”
