Brazil approaching their best, says Scolari

PHOTO | VANDERLEI ALMEIDA Brazil's coach Luiz Felipe Scolari gestures to his team during the Group A football match between Cameroon and Brazil at the Mane Garrincha National Stadium in Brasilia during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 23, 2014. Brazil won 4-1.

What you need to know:

  • Scolari's side now go on to a last-16 tie against Chile in Belo Horizonte on Saturday, and the coach admitted that he had not wanted Brazil to face their South American rivals.

BRASÍLIA

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said his team are getting better all the time after a 4-1 defeat of Cameroon on Monday took them into the last 16 of the World Cup.

"We have qualified but it wasn't easy. Cameroon are a good side and it is hard to see how they could have lost three games when you see how they played" said Scolari after a brace from Neymar and goals by Fred and Fernandinho gave the Selecao a handsome victory.

"We are almost at the ideal level and it is important coming into the knockout phase.

"Now we need to make sure we commit less mistakes. In the group stage you can get away with slipping up in one match but winning the other two, but now games can be decided by a single goal."

Scolari's side now go on to a last-16 tie against Chile in Belo Horizonte on Saturday, and the coach admitted that he had not wanted Brazil to face their South American rivals.

"I have come up against Chile two times before and I know how difficult a team they are," he said of Chile, who finished second in Group B behind the Netherlands.

"Some people think it will be easy to beat them, but they are a quality, well organised side.

"If I could have chosen our opponents I would not have chosen them," said the Brazilian.