| SAO PAULO // If World Cups could be won solely on experience, Brazil would not rely on their 23 players, of whom only five went to South Africa in 2010. Nor would they rely on Luiz Felipe Scolari, even though he led his nation to a record fifth title 12 years ago. If a World Cup could be won solely on experience, Brazil need to look only as far as Scolari’s assistant, Carlos Alberto Parreira, who has enjoyed a life so entwined with Fifa’s showpiece tournament that a World Cup without him would feel almost as odd as a World Cup without a ball. In 1970, 42 years ago, Parreira was a fitness coach with Brazil’s triumphant World Cup squad, working with Pele, Tostao and Rivelino. Inspired by the experience, he became one of only two coaches to lead five nations at World Cup finals, including the team of the United Arab Emirates in 1990. Scolari joked earlier this year that if Brazil do not win this month’s tournament he will need to emigrate to Kuwait. Yet Parreira, 71, moved there voluntarily in 1978 and led the Arab Gulf nation to its only finals, four years later. To continue reading, click here. |
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NOTE: In light of recent allegations surrounding Qatar's bid for the 2022 World Cup, ISWAS revisits a candid interview with Mohamed Bin Hammam from 2009. The Qatari was the president of the Asian Football Confederation, as well as being close allies with Fifa president Sepp Blatter. In July 2011, he was banned from football for life.
"I played as centre forward, but really I was just pretending to play," he reveals exclusively to Emirates Business. "I played that position until I was 16 or 17, but always without any skill – of that I can assure you."
Bin Hammam's presence was always admired more on the terraces than the turf. Most weekends he would brave the harsh humidity of the Middle East to watch his local side, Al Rayyan, compete against the likes of Al Sadd and Al Esteqlal in the Qatari League.
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Gary MeenaghanSports scribbler. Pedant with prose. Alliteration addict. Omnivore. Archives
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