The language barrier that may have been lost in translation

(REUTERS)

How good is Luiz Felipe Scolari's English? He speaks it so rarely that it is difficult to know but one thing is for sure: it is a lot better than the Brazilian has let on. In March 2006 he shared a stage with Sir Bobby Robson at the Institute of Directors' spring lunch in London. Scolari often supplemented his income from the Portuguese football federation with speaking engagements – as a World Cup-winner he was in demand.

That day he brought an interpreter on to the stage but those who were in the audience of the Royal Lancaster hotel saw the Brazilian soon dispense with the help and spoke English himself. And his command of the language was good enough to tell the Football Association where they could stick their England job a few months later.