Boos, taunts as unsteady Brazil get past Serbia
Team had got used to being booed by fans, says Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari
Sao Paulo: Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari shrugged off complaints from a restless home crowd as his team wrapped up their World Cup preparations with a 1-0 win over Serbia on Friday.
A second-half goal from centre-forward Fred secured an unconvincing win for Brazil, who were subjected to boos and catcalls by sections of their support as they struggled to break down the Serbians.
Scolari brushed off the restive reaction of the Sao Paulo crowd after the win, saying his team had got used to being booed by fans. “It’s normal and the players don’t take it to heart. I think at the end, of the 67,000 fans 65,000 will go home satisfied.”
A crowd of 67,042 saw Fluminense striker Fred slide an effort home despite being grounded after a challenge to end stubborn resistance by the Serbians, who kept Brazil starlet Neymar in check throughout.
The visitors took to the pitch wearing shirts bearing the legend “Serbia needs Help” after heaving flooding in May left some 50 preople dead. But it was Brazil who were floundering early on as they took time to find their rhythm.
As midfielder Oscar admitted afterwards: “It was tough. Serbia played very well and people will now hope things go better against Croatia. I am sure they will.”
In Foxborough, USA, coach Paulo Bento admitted there was work to do after his Portugal side missed the firepower of Cristiano Ronaldo in snatching a 1-0 win over fellow Cup qualifiers Mexico.
Sweating on the fitness of talisman Ronaldo with the Brazil showpiece just six days away, Portugal could only draw 0-0 with Greece last weekend and were hanging on for another goalless stalemate.
Other results: Croatia beat Australia 1-0, Greece beat Bolivia 2-1.