Brazil – Rivaldo: “Denmark is an almost perfect team, who'll stretch Brazil to the limits”

EDMUNDO (21):

“DENMARK is an attacking side with a strong midfield led by the LAUDRUP brothers, Michael and Brian (10 and 11). We will have to watch them very closely if they play as they did in their last game (DENMARK – NIGERIA, 4- 1, Sunday 28 June, match no. 51). We will treat them with respect, but we are optimistic and determined.”

TAFFAREL (1):

The DENMARK-NIGERIA match surprised me, because I thought the Africans were superior. But as we go into this quarter-final, our determination is growing and growing. In this World Cup, we know that both the media and the public are expecting a great deal of BRAZIL, and we know our responsibilities. For my third and last World Cup, I can’t go home a loser.”

ALDAIR (3):

“We respect DENMARK. The LAUDRUP brothers are international class players with a great deal of top-level experience. In addition, HELVEG (6) and JORGENSEN (21) bring to bear all the know-how that they have picked up playing Italian football.” (They both play for Udinese)

RIVALDO (10):

“The match against DENMARK will be the match of my life. Everybody believes that they are a weak side, but as far as I’m concerned, they have an almost perfect team, who’ll stretch BRAZIL to the limits. Once again, I would like to reiterate that there are no personality clashes in the Brazilian team, not between RONALDO and myself, nor between anybody else.”

ZICO (assistant coach):

“DENMARK is one of the rare teams in the world against which BRAZIL has fared poorly. We have met three times: on 10 May 1960 when we lost 4-3 in Copenhagen in a friendly game; on 18 June 1989, also in a friendly game, when we lost 4-0, and then, our only victory, in May 1996, when BRAZIL won 5-1. On Friday, it’s up to us to turn things around.”