Brazil players told to put their country first

BASEL - Brazil’s players must keep playing regularly at club level, even if it is in the “10th division,” and put their country ahead of financial concerns if they want to keep their places on the team for the World Cup, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said Tuesday.

“Big Phil” fired off the warnings as the team reassembled for the first time since their spectacular Confederations Cup win in June, telling the players there was still a long road ahead until the 2014 World Cup. He said Brazil’s players needed to carefully consider their club careers and go where they were likely to get a regular game, rather than making decisions based purely on financial considerations.

“A player who wants to play for Brazil has to think about the national team and not just think about the monetary side,” Scolari said on the eve of a friendly away to Switzerland, the first of the season.

“The spirit we showed at the Confederations Cup was absolutely spectacular. But now it’s over and we’re on a new path. The athletes have to remember that a lot can happen - players not getting regular games, transfers, players dropping out of favour at their clubs.” Reuters