FRANCE 98 – The Brazilian team guru is confident

Evandro Mota, nicknamed “Guru of the Brazilian team,” has been the motivational consultant for the Seleçao (Brazilian selection) since the World Cup 94. This simple and modest man of 42 years, a metallurgical engineer by trade, has an important role for Mario ZAGALLO’S players as he is responsible for raising their spirits. In order to give the team confidence, Mota prepares the world champions by instilling in them an image of winning through different methods. To begin, he puts together a scrap book containing press clippings of “Brazilians winning”. Second comes a video conference organised the day before each match, also showing Brazilian champions, as well as the players themselves and their best triumphs. “We are the strongest” is their motto. The third method, the most important in raising the morale of the players, consists of handing out a folder containing the photo of a Brazilian hero and a symbolic phrase to every player on each match day. Before facing MOROCCO, RONALDO’S team mates received a photo of Oscar SCHMITT with the statement: “The best way to respect an opponent is to do everything possible to beat him”. Before the match against the NETHERLANDS, a photo of Ayrton SENNA was given to the Brazilians with the phrase: “When I win, victory is not personal. It is rather the fruit of the teamwork of the professionals on my team.”

Right now, Evandro Mota believes that BRAZIL are in peak psychological form, and he has confidence for their performance in the final: “Against FRANCE, I think they feel like they are in the best shape possible. Football is not mathematical, but everything points to a Brazilian victory.” Mota has refused to disclose the identity of the hero that will be used to raise the morale of the Seleçao on 12 July, the day of the final when the South-Americans will face the French. Against the world champions, the French, who have not participated in the final phase of the World Cup for 12 years, must be sure of themselves and confident in their collective and individual abilities. Aimé JACQUET, coach for FRANCE, will probably urge his players to be “daring”, and perhaps even give them a picture of Seneca early Sunday, with the following citation: ” We do not dare because things are difficult; things are difficult because we do not dare.”