Wednesday 17 July 2013 11:14, UK
Manchester United defender Rafael has been stung by suggestions he is not interested in playing for Brazil.
As Brazil triumphed at the Confederations Cup, Rafael is not going to force his way back into Scolari's plans particularly easily, especially when his most recent experience of representing his country in a high-profile game was to gift the ball to Mexico for their first-minute opener in that Olympic final. "I always say the Olympics were the best thing that has ever happened to me," said Rafael. "It made me much stronger as a person. Up to the semi-final, everyone was saying good things about me and how well I was doing. "After we lost the final it was all my fault. (With Brazil) there always has to be someone to blame - it doesn't matter whether it is Under-17s, Under-19s, anyone - and I was it. "People said lots of things but I said to myself 'don't let it affect you'. "I am a stronger person because of it because nothing can be like that again."
