As always, Brazil arrive in South Africa hotly-tipped after Copa America and Confederations Cup glory. Can manager Dunga translate the no-frills, organised approach that brought him World Cup 1994 glory as captain to the world stage this summer?
Group H may be the so-called “Group of Death†but in many ways it may just be reduced to a battle between Portugal and Ivory Coast for the group’s second spot. As the only country to have competed in every single World Cup and won the trophy five times, there is little that worries the 2007 Copa America and 2009 Confederations Cup victors. Not since 1966 have the samba stars failed to pass through a World Cup group stage either.
Under manager Dunga’s leadership, this summer’s Brazil,summ is for better or worse, unlike any Brazilian side in recent memory. Ditching the flashy theatrics of Joga Bonito, Dunga’s Brazil rely heavily on the collective over the individual – a rugged, hard-working unit whose core strength is its world-class defence. With flashy stars (Ronaldinho, Adriano) sitting out the competition in place of low-key performers (Julio Baptista, Elano), 2010’s seleção are in many ways a response to the ill-disciplined, overhyped 2006 World Cup performers that crashed out at the quarter final stage.
Star Player: Kaka
2007 World Player of the Year Kaka is no stranger to immense pressure and expectation. After last summer’s £68.5m Real Madrid transfer, he became the most expensive footballer of all time (a record which lasted less than three weeks under his club’s Galactico revival), but ultimately flattered to deceive with a disappointing, injury-addled season.
As the primary, perhaps only, creative force in the Brazilian side, Kaka faces pressure like never before in repairing his world-class reputation on the world stage and carrying the hopes of his country atop his shoulders. However having being crowned player of the tournament at last summer’s Confederations Cup, there is much to suggest he can rise to this challenge
Manager: Dunga
A surprising appointment by any standards, 1994 World Cup-winning captain Dunga was appointed head coach of the Brazilian side in 2006 with no previous coaching experience to his credit. Modelling his side after his no-frills contingent of 1994, Dunga has shut out popular but disruptive stars such as Ronaldinho (much to Nike’s chagrin after its latest advert) with a play style and strategy that has earned results yet a hostile reception from his nation’s media.
Guardian football writer Paolo Bandini recently suggested that the coach will be “quartered in medieval style if he fails to win the World Cupâ€, a suggestion that proves what years of success and Harlem-Globetrotter-style pitch theatrics can do to a nation’s expectations. With his uncompromising 23-man squad, Dunga has sent a clear message that no matter his side’s eventual performance, he won’t sacrifice his strategy to placate populist demands.
Prediction: Final defeat
With a defence boasting the ranks of Maicon, Lucio and Julio Cesar, only a side with the world’s best strike partnership could possibly put Brazil on the back foot – step forward David Villa and Fernando Torres. Last year’s Spain’s shock Confederations Cup semi final defeat to USA doused hopes of a thrilling Spain/Brazil final. In 2010 however the stars look set to align for the bookies’ favourites in a titanic final, one which judging by each side’s stunning form has been years in the making. Although no European side has ever won a World Cup outside their home continent, this may not be enough for Brazil to prevail over an arguably more complete Spanish side.
Odds: 5/1 2F
Irishness rating: 8/10
Though they have no real Irish connections, for their thrilling historic success, iconic kit and TV close-ups of curvy arse-shaking female supporters, Brazil is everyone’s second favourite international team.
If they were a car they’d be…
A Ferrari – full of style, full of flair and consistently at the top of the pile.
