Luiz Felipe Scolari has discussed the implausibility of Brazil’s historic 7-1 humbling by Germany and insisted that, if he’s the scapegoat for it, he’s to whom their 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™ conquest is most indebted.

“The least I can say to those who want to blame me is that, if I’m the only one responsible for the defeat in 2014, I’m therefore the only one responsible for the triumph in 2002,” the 68-year-old, who since quitting the Brazil reins has led Guangzhou Evergrande to back-to-back Chinese Super League titles and AFC Champions League glory, told Chuteira FC. “I ask, ‘Who was the last world champion with Brazil?’ It was me. So, if I lost the 2014 World Cup on my own, I won the 2002 World Cup on my own.

“I don’t think it’s fair that they say I was to blame for everything. I’m not asking you to judge me. After the World Cup I got back to work normally. I exceeded expectations. Two years have passed and in this time I’ve won five titles.

“The absurd result against Germany didn’t reflect our situation. We’d been playing really well and, at times, moderately. The goal was to progress step by step. We were doing our job well. Until that semi-final there wasn’t a big difference between Brazil and Germany. We weren’t doing our job badly. It was done well.

“That game it all went wrong. There was something missing collectively. The Germans were happy and we weren’t. I can guarantee that a result like that will only be repeated in another 2,000 years.”

Scolari coached a Brazil side including Ronaldinho, Rivaldo and Ronaldo to an unforeseen triumph at Korea/Japan 2002.

Brazil were sixth in South American qualifying for Russia 2018 – they were only above seventh-placed Paraguay on goal difference – and in genuine danger of losing their proud, unique record of playing at every World Cup when Tite grabbed the controls in July. However, A Seleção have since won six successive preliminaries for the first time in 47 years to catapult themselves four points clear at the summit.