THE next few days could play a big part in the redemption of Luiz Felipe Scolari.
The former Chelsea boss won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002. But, in popular perception back home, the good was outweighed by the bad.
More than the champion of 2002, Scolari has been remembered as the man responsible for defeat; not any old reverse, but that extraordinary, barely credible 7-1 capitulation to Germany on home ground in the 2014 World Cup.
It is, and will surely remain for ever, the most humiliating defeat in Brazil’s glorious history.
Scolari will never shake it off. But he is showing that he can live with the trauma.
In the aftermath of that fateful game, some of those around Scolari were genuinely concerned for his well being.
Normally an upbeat character, he was trapped in a cloud of depression.
He tried to rediscover his touch in a safe haven, returning to Gremio of Porto Alegre, the club where he made his name in the mid 90s.
It was too soon, and was not a success, and he stepped down after ten months.
Wisely, he then took himself out of the Brazilian spotlight, moving to China to take charge of Guangzhou Evergrande.
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He won the domestic league, and topped that with the Asian title.
His mojo back, his swagger recovered, his mind began to turn to the challenge of showing the Brazilian public what he was made of.
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The opportunity came at the end of July, when Palmeiras of Sao Paulo came calling.
His appointment was widely criticized. ‘Big Phil’ was written off as a has-been, cut down to size by that flurry of first half German goals.
But Palmeiras offered him a past, and a future. He had been successful with the club at the end of the 90s, and he was now taking charge at an opportune moment.
The club are rich, with a wealthy sponsor and a splendid new stadium, generally rated as the best of the recently built Brazilian grounds.
Palmeiras have assembled a squad of considerable depth – which may well have been a problem.
How to keep everyone happy, and ensure a healthy working environment?
This has always been where Scolari excels. He is a magnificent group former.
His style – the tough but sentimental father figure – works extremely well with Brazilian players.
One of his laments at Chelsea was that with many of the players he could not get past a professional relationship.
They were not looking for a father figure. Brazilians, though, tend to respond well to this.
The 2002 World Cup squad were dubbed ‘the Scolari family,’ and the nickname is starting to be applied to Palmeiras 2018.
The cluttered calendar of the domestic Brazilian game has come to his aid. The matches come thick and fast.
Scolari looked at his squad and saw that, in effect, he could pick two teams. One would play in the league.
The other would play in the cups – the domestic cup and the Copa Libertadores, South America’s Champions League.
Everyone was important. They could all play big matches. It seems to have kept them happy and motivated.
Palmeiras have surged to the top of the league. They fell in the semi finals of the domestic cup, but are through to the same stage of the Libertadores.
And now comes the business end of the season.
Over the next two Wednesdays, Palmeiras face Argentine giants Boca Juniors, first away and then at home, with a place in the Libertadores final at stake.
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In between, they take their four point lead at the top of the table to second placed Flamengo of Rio for the 31st of the 38 rounds of the league.
Victory would give them a cushion. Defeat would ignite the title race. And Scolari has several players suspended.
Over the next few days, then, the strength and depth of his squad will be tested- first in Boca’s fearsome Bonbonera stadium, then in the legendary Maracana, then back at their own sparkling ground.
Come through that lot intact, and ‘Big Phil’ Scolari will recover more of his sparkle.
Fall at these hurdles, and he can expect to put up with a few more cruel comments about the 7-1.