Play me not Rivaldo - Denilson

The Real Betis left flanker has had a superb season in Spain, finally justifying his £23 million transfer fee which was a world record when the Sevilla club signed him four seasons ago.

In contrast, Rivaldo - dogged by a knee injury for the last 12 months - has had comfortably his most disappointing campaign since arriving at Barcelona five years ago and was a doubt to even make the finals.

Denilson feels his superior work-rate should persuade Scolari to play him alongside Ronaldo and Ronaldinho Gaucho in the Brazilian attack.

"I am a better marker than Rivaldo and expect this to be taken into consideration.

"Brazil have to play as a team in this World Cup if we are going to have any success and I am much better at doing that than he is."

Denilson has the backing of much of his country's supporters, who see his 'party tricks' as a throw-back to the days of Garrincha and have been unhappy with Rivaldo's performances in a yellow shirt in recent years.

However, as he has shown with his decision not to pick Romario, Scolari is not a man to bow down to public opinion