SAO PAULO, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Veteran manager Vanderlei Luxemburgo has urged Brazil's national team to focus less on modern strategies and more on having fun as the South American giants attempt to recapture their past glory.
Brazil have won a record five World Cup titles but their last triumph came in 2002 and they have not progressed beyond the semifinals since then.
Speaking during one of his first appearances before the media since being appointed Corinthians manager on Monday, Luxemburgo insisted Brazil could not compete with their European rivals on a tactical level.
"We were world champions because of our characteristics, because of our essence," said the 70-year-old, who managed Brazil from 1998 to 2000 and had an 11-month spell in charge of Real Madrid in 2005.
"The Europeans were afraid of us. From the moment we wanted to play like they do in Europe, we were on their level and lost the advantage that made us win."
Luxemburgo acknowledged that football had become faster and more technical, but said they were not reasons for Brazilian players to abandon their flair and spontaneity.
"The big change is the occupation of spaces quickly," he said. "I would like Brazil to embrace modernity without giving up the characteristics of our football, which is magical football," he added.
Brazil are currently searching for a head coach to replace Tite, who departed after the team's World Cup quarterfinal defeat to Croatia on penalties in December.
Luxemburgo is Brazil's most successful modern-day manager, having won five national Serie A titles over a career spanning 40 years. ■
