 "Scolari says Brazil has one hand on WC trophy, blasts critics")
An angry Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has said he is confident that his team already has one hand on this year's FIFA World Cup trophy, and has roundly blasted critics who think otherwise.
Speaking ahead of his team's quarter-final clash against Colombia in Fortaleza, Scolari said the 2002 World Cup winners are on course to reclaim the trophy on home soil.
According to the BBC, Scolari has been criticised by former players, including 1970 World Cup winning captain Carlos Alberto, for his use of sports psychologist Regina Brandao.
Brandao, who has worked regularly with Scolari, visited the Brazil camp after several of the players broke down in tears during the national anthem, and also after the penalty shoot-out win against Chile in the last 16.
Scolari says the interaction with Brandao was pre-scheduled and organized, and added that she will come again on Sunday and Monday.
Brazil has reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the sixth consecutive time, and have lost at this stage in the last two tournaments.
Their only defeat in the last 25 games has come against Switzerland last August. They have won 18 games, drawn six and lost one. They are unbeaten in 41 successive home matches, with their last defeat coming against Paraguay in August 2002.