World Cup winners look beyond FIFA Centenary match

PARIS (AFP) — Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has played down suggestions the FIFA Centenary match with France will be a rematch of the 1998 World Cup final.

Parreira, who coached Brazil when they won the 1994 World Cup, took over the reins from Luiz Felipe Scolari after Brazil clinched their fifth world title in Japan in 2002.

Two headers from Zinedine Zidane helped France beat Brazil 3-0 in the 1998 Paris final at the Stade de France where Thursday's friendly is being played.

"It's a prestigious match between two of the best schools of football in the world, but it's not a re-match of the 1998 final," Parreira said Wednesday.

"But just because it's not a competitive match doesn't mean my players, especially Ronaldo, are not motivated."

Ronaldo had a disastrous 1998 final after then coach Mario Zagallo apparently had to be persuaded to let him play after the striker when he went down with a mysterious illness in the changing rooms.

The two sides have mmet just once ... // 55% Remaining