Parreira: "I'm looking forward to playing Spain, we're not scared"

Posted Sunday, June 23, 2013 by Marca.com

Parreira:

Playing Spain in the 2013 Confederations Cup is the ultimate challenge for Brazil's technical director, Carlos Alberto Parreira, who assured that the 'Seleção' is not afraid of the World Cup and twice European champions.

"We're not scared of Spanish football. We do have respect for it", the 'right-hand-man' to national team coach Luiz Felipe Scolari revealed in a press conference held before the five-time world champions travel to Salvador de Bahia to go up against Italy on Saturday in the final Group A match.

Brazil-Italy will be a clash between two teams already through to the semi-finals, but it will decide which will take the top Group A spot and circumvent a semi-final tie with Spain. Parreira is confident of a win or draw against Italy, which would rule out crossing paths with Spain before the final.

"I can't wait for a game against them", commented Parreira, who led Brazil to its third World Cup win in the USA in 1994 and was also at the helm of the team knocked out in the quarter-finals of the 2006 World Cup.

According to the former coach, Spain "is the best team in the world. Not just the senior team, but also the Under-21 and Under-19 sides, who are European champions". Perreira also noted that, in a hypothetical final showdown, Spain would have the advantage "with its team ready while Brazil is still developing".

"But I really want that game to happen. It's a challenge. We want to get the measure of the world champion. But first we have to focus on Italy and play the semi-finals", he concluded.