麻豆社

Fascinating... these blogs are really adding to the atmosphere of the world cup. Good work, guys.

Just one question, though, how does doing a 'sit down' interview instead of a 'walk and talk' prevent the portugese media getting wind of the interview?

I know there are usually many sides to a story, but if in fact what Scolari says about the England post is true, then I think the entire selection panel need sacking.

They've rushed the entire process, not got the best man for the job and the nation will be forced to endure another 4 or 5 years without a chance of european or world cup glory because of passionless, tactically inept management.

Leonardo has most definitely been an added bonus to the team of pundits!

Couldn't agree more with what TBFB wrote in post 2.

The entire process was a shambles from start to finish and pretty much ended up back at square one with the guy thats already there in some capacity already.

Good Afternoon,

Good interview with Scolari. Well if we go by Scolari's words then it is a pity that the FA's own ego got the better of them and that hopefully they will learn on how to go about employing a manager in the future.
Wanting to announce Scolari as the new England manager prior to the World Cup would have put him in a very precarious situation and he was right not to want that situation. But the FA (who continue to shoot themselves in the foot) could not wait for quality and settled for 2nd best - a manager who has not proven himself at this level.
If only they had not committed themselves to an announcement date, but instead explained a reason for waiting until after the World Cup.

As Mr Soclari said, the FA did everything right with the approach, but when it came to the delivery their ego got the better.

Good Luck to one and all!!

I couldn't agree more with Matthew Preston's comment. Doing a little bit of (very) amateur stuff along these lines myself, it's good to see that the professionals' methods don't differ enormously from my own, even if their abilities, resources and end-results do!

I must agree all blogs on this site have been an intersting read. The 麻豆社 have done an excellent job in this world cup and kept me compelled throughout. I avidly await new posts on the bbc website, and then switch over to the television to hear the latest analysis from Alan Hansen and the boys. The quality of entertainment has been an utter contrast to that of ITV of whom have always left me unfulfilled.
Come on England!

I thought the Leonardo interview with Scolari for MOTD was absolutely first class. Conducted in a most informal manner, both individuals were a credit to their profession, and the honesty of the conversation gave the viewing public a chance to see the undoubted quality both men have to offer. Scolari is clearly a very honourable man, who is extremely passionate about all aspects of his job, whilst Leonardo using his relaxed technique, demonstrated that his talents off the field equally match those he so often displayed on it. Congratulations are in order to everyone involved.

I have to agree here. If McClaren was picked just because they lacked the sense to wait for 2 months, then they should be fired. This is the reason for passing on one of the best coaches in the world? Even Scolari's reasons for saying no had 'class'.

Tactically, England has not moved forward in the last few years and the last England coach that had the ability to change a game was Venables, and that was 10 years ago. It so disppointing to see England play like this when they have so many good players at their disposal.

Now we have to put up with someone who's resume is that he coached Middlesboro instead of the person who coached Brazil to a World Cup. Good grief!!!

Well done on getting Leonardo. A great addition to the pundits already used. It never ceases to amaze me how as a Brazilian his English is superb. Would love to see on match of the dy next season. Although the delights of Bolton v Sheffield Utd and Aston Villa v Watford are not the beautiful game but if he castigates Big Sam or Warnock the way has a pop at Fat Ron it will be a joy to watch.

Not sure if you any noticed Big Phil during the last Portugal game, he was on the touchline the whole game, shouting instructions, encouraging players.

Steve Mclaren on the other hand never even moved or broke a smile when England scored against Sweden.

Big Phil would urge his players to 'die for Portugal', Svennis would plead with his players to 'try a bit harder if it's okay with you boys'

Big Phil wants to win, Sven and Stve m want to take part - lets hope the players can motivate themselves!

Hi guys

Thanks for your comments. The reason we had to do the interview sitting down as opposed to a walk-and-talk is that the media could have seen us conducting the interview and would have doubtlessly tried to race over to our position. As it was, we were in a marquee, oblivious to anyone else!

Cheers

Glen (World Cup Daily Producer)

Bloody hell, what a story!

I too enjoyed the interview with Scolari. I have nothing against Mclaren but it is a shame we never got Scolari.

Congrats 麻豆社 on the interview but also well done on getting Leonardo his input is spot on, also my wife now seems to take more interest in post match punditry, I wonder why?

I think you just summed up the attitude of England haven't you. "it's the taking part that counts". I love the passion of many of the foreign managers and players. For some reason we just don't seem to have it.

McLaren doesn't strike me as a passionate mananger and thats a shame, I think we messed up big style trying to rush Scolari into the job he could of taken us all the way.

Superb interview by the way, was nice to see such a frank and from the heart discussion.

Big Phil..... we will miss you. I just hope that the FA will learn from this and won't mess up again in the future.

On another note, it is really funny how you guys had to hide to get the interview without inteference. Nice......

The foreign pundits are really proving their worth on the Beeb with their eloquence, dignified manner and great insight. Leonardo and Marcel Desailly have been the two best signings the 麻豆社 have made for World Cup 2006. Let's see more of them after the tournament has ended.

Paul Rooney,
Glasgow.

I can only echo the comments above - an excellent interview, and an excellent addition to the team in Leonardo.

another 4 or 5 years without a chance of european or world cup glory because of passionless, tactically inept management

Amazing how the England players get away with murder and all the blame is put on the 'passionless' coach. To call a manager of Eriksson's reputation, success and experience 'tactically inept' is a bit rich really.

Do you ever think that maybe the players are to blame for being poor tactically, or simply overrated and believing their own hype? The way they've played so far I feel that even Scolari couldn't have done much about that.

Leo's interview with Scolari was excellent and in its own way was indicative of why England haven't a cat in hells chance of winning the WC. Unlike a certain Scandanavian-both have excellent football brains,ethics,empathy with the players,respect for others..do I need to continue? Sacking the Swede to then employ him another few months when we could have a a truly world class coach!! FA-describes their knowledge of football perfectly!!

there is something about Latin American footballing outlook isn't there? They live it. We just love it.They are passionate but also rational and sensible. The comments during the Brazil Japan game were spot on. No 70 yard passes to no-one--maybe a 50 yard ball from one full back to the other.All quick through the middle and quick down the wings--no Carragher standing on it and then passing it backwards. Oh so damn good to watch

It might be an exclusive interview as the person is big man Scolari. The world could see his strong mentality in the last world cup that took Brazil to their 鈥淧enta鈥� victory in the world cup. I can still remember one of his speeches during the last world cup where he said that being runner-up means being the best among the looser. I hope you will let us know about what he said with you about his refusal to be the England manager and other issues.

Leonardo and Phil are both pure class. English footballers, in Maradona's words, are noble but it never seems to tranlate into fascinating football...

Everyone seems to love this Leonardo fella. Is this the same Leonardo who broke someone's jaw with a rather tasty elbow during USA 1994? I seem to remember he was banned for the offence, much like Italy's De Rossi this time around. I wonder will Lineker ask Leonardo for his opinion on the De Rossi episode...

Great interview. The whole thing left me feeling very annoyed.. Here we have a world cup wining coach who's honour and class wouldn't let him take the job early due to his commitments to Portugal..Surely this was good sign to wait for him unlike a certain Swedish mercenary who appears to have none of these qualities and whose favourite movie quote seems to be "show me the money"

Great interview. The whole thing left me feeling very annoyed.. Here we have a world cup wining coach who's honour and class wouldn't let him take the job early due to his commitments to Portugal..Surely this was good sign to wait for him unlike a certain Swedish mercenary who appears to have none of these qualities and whose favourite movie quote seems to be "show me the money"

To Martin O'Neill, Lee Dixon & Ian Wright et al,
Yes, you're right, you probably wouldn't get a look in if you walked into a night club with Leonardo. We (oldish) ladies may never see him in a night club but he has certainly brightened our days watching the World Cup on 麻豆社. Absolutely Charming in the best sense of the word. Well done whoever chose him as a presenter and thanks!!

I loved the Scolari interview! Leonardo is a natural.
The 麻豆社 should give him a full-time spot on MOTD next season...the ladies definitely love him!

I loved the Scolari interview! Leonardo is a natural.
The 麻豆社 should give him a full-time spot on MOTD next season...the ladies definitely love him!

If I remember rightly he was sent off for elbowing the American midfielder Tab Ramos in the cheek. Give him credit though - he apologised and claimed that the contact was accidental. I think De Rossi beats him for sheer cynicism.

His strength on camera is that he appears natural rather than reverting to 'the pundit' role assumed by so many UK ex-professionals...

I feel such a great pain regarding the results posted by England at every world cup stage. England has all it takes to clinch the covetted but elusive cup. I have managed to narrow the problem down to the FA and the English press. Whereas the FA can be overbearing towards the coaches, the press demand what only angels could give.

A way out of this logjam is for both the FA, press and fans to put their acts together and support the next coach, whoever it may be; bearing in mind cultural differences in case a foreign coach is appointed. The press should be less judgemental and allow them some privacy because they are human. The fans should measure their enthusiasm by being realistic in their expectations. The FA should speak to Scolari again; its about time the world cup came home!

Brazil played its best.

As a Brazilian, I'd have loved to see Scolari coach the English team. Call me crazy, but that honor would be almost as great as winning a World Cup! It鈥檚 too bad things didn鈥檛 work out.

As a Brazilian, I'd have loved to see Scolari coach the English team. Call me crazy, but that honor would be almost as great as winning a World Cup. It鈥檚 too bad it didn鈥檛 work out.

In reply to Post 20:

I certainly agree players must take a responsibility for their performances but from reading recent articles about the half time team talks, they seem to be less than inspiring from SGE. Like any collective unit a football team require good strong leadership on and off the pitch to get the best from the players. Something we don鈥檛 have in either manager or captain. Something you would get from Scolari.

I coin the phrase 鈥渢actically inept鈥� as if Plan A doesn鈥檛 work; we often haven鈥檛 got a Plan B or C that works either. SGE may have been a good manager in Italy but I think his style is non-complementary to the English game and doesn鈥檛 have the vision to drastically alter his approach when needed. Suspect squad selections, no forward thinking and inability to trust younger players amongst other things. Maybe you think I am being harsh, but for that amount of money you except people to deliver and I don鈥檛 think he鈥檚 capable of doing it. At any rate I would love him to prove me wrong.

Now you have identified Leonardo as an a pundit who can deliver insightful and thoughtful comments on a game without hysteria or playing to the gallery, please sign him for next season. A true professional who delivers without the incessant 'dumbing down' that seems to invade all other punditry.