11 Jun 2014

Scolari loses nephew in car crash

6:40 pm on 11 June 2014

A nephew of the Brazil football coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has been killed in a car crash two days before the World Cup begins.

Tarcisio Joao Schneider crashed into a truck near the city of Passo Fundo, Scolari's hometown.

It is Scolari's second family loss in recent weeks, as he attended the funeral of his brother-in-law in May.

65-year-old Scolari, who won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002, will lead his side in the tournament opener against Croatia in Sao Paulo on Friday morning.

Scolari has also taken charge of Portugal, Chelsea, Bunyodkor and Palmeiras between his two spells as Brazil boss.

Brazil, hosting the World Cup for the first time since 1970, have won the tournament a record five times but have not lifted the trophy since 2002.