Four years ago, expectations in Brazil were high as the World Cup came to the country for just the second time. Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side seemed to be handling that expectation, topping their group before a penalty-shootout victory over Chile and a quarter-final win over Colombia set up a crunch semi-final against Germany in Belo Horizonte.
On a day that still haunts many Brazilians, the host nation’s campaign came to a shuddering halt as eventual winners Germany ran riot, winning 7-1. But nearly four years on, Gilberto, who was on commentary duty at Mineirao, is in positive mood about his country’s chances, saying the team’s experiences of four years ago will stand them in good stead this time around.
”I do believe they have a good chance but as we all know it’s not easy to win a World Cup. Every team has the same will, playing to win the trophy,” he added. “However, comparing this team to the side of four years ago they are in a totally different situation. Many of the players in this squad were there in the last World Cup and they have grown up together,” Silva told Sky Sports.
“This time, I believe the chances of Brazil are real but we have to work hard first,” he added. “This is the lesson we learnt from the last World Cup and because it has been painful for everyone we all want the team to deliver this time in Russia.”