Brazil will play own game, says Scolari

Brazil will not be worrying about England or spying on their training sessions. The South Americans already know all they need to win, according to their coach. "I know everything about England, but I'm not going to tell you what I'm going to do," Luiz Felipe Scolari said yesterday. "I don't have to go on the field to see them. With all the gadgetry around today everyone knows everything about everyone else."

He said Brazil have been ready to face the English since before the tournament began. "Before the Cup, there were eight teams that we pre-studied, and England was one," he said. "We know what we will do. We just have to put it into practice. They are an excellent team, they are very compact, their marking is excellent and they get forward quickly."

He said there would be no special marking for any individual. "I'm worried about the whole team, they don't depend just on one player, we have to mark everyone. We will keep to our game," he said.

Scolari said he ran tapes for his players of England's games, particularly the 3-0 victory over Denmark. They were especially interested how David Beckham delivered free kicks and corners.

For Scolari, though improvisation counts is more important. "We use it a lot," he said. "As a coach I will never restrict an attacker's creativity. We give him tactics, a base so that improvisation can happen. A well-organised team finds it easier to play."

Despite his side's individual brilliance in the 2-0 win over Belgium in the second round, Scolari admitted his side has a lot to learn. "Tactically we're good – not very good, but good," he said. "For Brazil, that's already a big step forward."

In order to counter England's tight defence he intends his side to avoid conceding an early goal, yet still attack. "When you have the attackers that we have, if you don't allow a goal your chances rise considerably," he said. "When you get behind, it's difficult to revert. Still, I will maintain a highly offensive team."

Brazil's defence has been heavily criticised and Scolari has yet to field the same back-three in successive games, but he stood by them yesterday, saying: "Our defence is no worse than any other defence, it has defects and qualities like all the others. It's a normal defence."

He added: "We, who live with the players every day, know more about our defects and qualities than those who don't work with the athlete."