Australia friendly like World Cup match: Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari

Luiz Felipe Scolari

Brasilia - Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has described Saturday’s international friendly against Australia “like a World Cup match”.

Speaking on the eve of the duel at the Mane Garrincha Stadium here, Scolari offered praise of the ‘Socceroos’, who are ranked 37 places below Scolari’s team, reports Xinhua.

“This is like a World Cup encounter. Australia play with nine men behind the midfield and seven or eight of their players are taller than 1.85 cm. They play very different to us and are the kind of rival that we can come up against in the tournament,” Scolari said.

Brazil have played Australia six times, winning four, losing once and drawing once.

Chelsea midfielder Oscar did not train with Brazil’s squad and is in doubt for the match with an ankle sprain. The hosts are already without injured trio Fred (thigh), Hulk (hamstring) and Alves (ankle). Luke Wilkshire (knee) and Tim Cahill (ankle) will be absent for the visitors.