WORLD CUP USA ‘94: ROUND OF 16 : Spotlight : NEVER A DOUBT

On the day after beating the United States to advance to the quarterfinals, Brazil Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira made Tuesday morning’s practice at Santa Clara University optional for his starters.

The only one who showed up was goalkeeper Claudio Taffarel, presumably because he had such a light workout Monday. The United States took only four shots, only one inside the penalty area.

In his daily grilling by the Brazilian media, Parreira rejected their suggestion that the score was not more decisive because the United States was so pumped up by playing in its home country on the Fourth of July.

“They were not only playing on emotion,” Parreira said of the Americans. “They are pretty good players. They beat Mexico one week before the World Cup, and they beat Colombia. It was a difficult game for us, especially after it was 0-0 at the half.”

But Parreira would not go so far as to say that he felt threatened by the United States.

“Just look at the statistics,” he said. “We were flagrantly better, even playing with one less man.”