Scolari's food for thought

Brazil have plenty of reasons to be optimistic as they head into the opening game of their bid to finally win the World Cup on home soil.
Technical co-cordinator Carlos Alberto Parreira has said that he is so confident Brazil can win the 'hexacampeonato', a sixth World Cup, because "we have the best defence in the world", marshalled by Paris Saint-Germain duo Thiago Silva and David Luiz.
Their presence, along with full-backs Dani Alves and Marcelo, masks any doubts surrounding the condition of goalkeeper Julio Cesar, while at the other end of the field Brazil have the potential superstar of the finals in Neymar.
"When things are going bad, we try to do everything to get the ball to Neymar," said striker Fred, underlining the importance to the Selecao of the 22-year-old Barcelona forward.
But elsewhere coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has some thinking to do in midfield, where questions are being asked about the players who have formed his first-choice trio in that area ever since last year's triumphant Confederations Cup run.
In the 3-0 victory against Spain in the final of that competition, Luiz Gustavo and Paulinho provided the protection to the defence while Oscar was charged with offering the creative spark.