Brazil’s Coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira, wants his
team to play with a smile on their faces at this year's World
Cup, so has ruled out imposing a sex ban.
While Parreira's predecessor, Luis Felipe Scolari, ran a famously
strict regime during the 2002 finals, a more relaxed mood
will prevail in Germany and that includes as much sex as his
players want.
"I don't think that sex one day before the game will
have any harm on the player. Just sex, no problem," Parreira
told Maxim magazine.
"The problem is, they don't eat, they don't sleep, they
smoke and they drink. That is the problem. Sex? No, sex is
always very good -- always welcome."
Parreira also gave an insight into the methods his team uses
to maintain spirit during tournaments.
Ronaldinho is a keen player of the samba drums and the world
champions would be packing their instruments once again, when
they head to Germany.
"Psychologists say it is very important in the dressing
room and coming from the hotel to the stadium that you do
something with your hands, with your mouth," Parreira
said.
"If you just sit there worrying? Clutching your hands?
That does not help. If you play something it helps relax.
That is why we give them the drums and things.
"Since 1970, we have done this. We buy instruments for
them, and they play on the bus instead of saying, 'Oh my God,
we are going to play Germany or England in a World Cup game.'
That does not help."
Parreira also said there was no chance that Brazil would play
more conservatively in Germany.
"We have to give a good impression and keep our style.
We don't have to change that because we are going to play
a World Cup.
"We have to defend as well, otherwise we go nowhere.
But we can't deny our roots -- we play a happy game."