SA Blog Number 24: World Cup Preview - Brazil
10th June 2010
If you tune into the World Cup this week hoping to see Brazil play the Samba football from 1970 and 1982, expect to be disappointed. Dunga’s tenure has centred around squad loyalty, camaraderie and continuity. That he immediately named his 23 men - plus seven reserves - rather than a provisional 30, where he would be forced to drop players, came as no surprise.
His pragmatism is often attacked, but this is a squad steeped in belief that will give their all for the canary yellow shirt. For Dunga, it’s not about the individual, whether that be Ronaldinho, Pato or Adriano – it’s about the collective. And it’s worked.
Since January 2009, Brazil played 30 games, winning 21, drawing seven and losing just two. Add to that 2007 Copa America victory and the 2010 Confederations Cup title alongside a healthy qualification campaign that saw them top the grueling CONMEBOL group. Dunga has found a winning formula, and is taking it to South Africa.
Going into the tournament, however, there are a few minor concerns - namely the problematic left-back position and trying to break down well organised teams who ‘park the bus’.
Left-back has been a long term headache for Dunga. He experimented with six in qualification – none of whom proved themselves worthy– and has now decided on Lyon’s Michel Bastos, who started Brazil’s last four matches there. The major worry for Dunga is that his entire midfield is set-up to protect Maicon’s thunderous surges forward from right back. When Maicon attacks, whoever occupies right midfield in the 4-2-3-1(Ramires, Dani Alves, or most likely, Elano), will be ordered to drop and cover.
The result is an asymmetrical trio, with Robinho on the left as the only out-and-out winger and Kaka playing central, ordered to support the lone striker, Luis Fabiano. If the opposition successfully expose this as a major weakness, Gilberto Silva and Felipe Melo will be forced to push further left; the worst case scenario being Maicon will be ordered to be more defensive as Elano shifts infield, forming a three man midfield of 4-3-2-1 to help Bastos.
Selecting the inexperienced Bastos, who has just four caps and often plays club football on the right of midfield, could still upset the balance of this winning team….particularly when Robinho abandons his defensive duties. Robinho’s prescence in attack might be enough to stop the opposition’s right back from attacking, but in a 1v1 situation, Bastos will still be hugely vulnerable.
Despite being the best counter-attacking team in world football, in qualifying Brazil struggled against overly defensive teams. The South Americans love to be attacked: their phenomenol defence, which conceeded a miserable 11 goals in 18 games, absorb the pressure before unleashing Kaka and Robinho on the break. They proved this in qualifying with several stunning away victories: smashing Argentina 3-1 in Rosario; Uruguay 4-0 in Montevideo; Venezuela 4-0 in San Cristobal; and Chile 3-0 in Santiago. The wins against Argentina and Uruguay were particularly impressive as they were Brazil’s first away victory over both in qualifying history.
However, the way Brazil set-up can be easy to defend against if you have good organisation and a brazen lack of ambition. Brazil recorded four 0-0 draws at home to inferior opposition. Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia and Venezuela, all came to play for a point and left happy. Brazil’s first game against North Korea - who are a shamelessly defensive team – will be interesting to see if Dunga has found a solution to this obvious problem.
Brian Maxwell, SouthAmericanFootball.co.uk
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Ross
:::2010-06-10 15:36:58
Is it just me or is Dunga a bit obtuse? With Alves and Maicon beoth being rather good, rather Brazilian and rather good would it not make sense to play one of those two at left back? Why opt for an inexperienced Baston, who you astutely note above plays for Lyon in a right midfield berth? They are Brazilian for Jebus´ sake what side of the pitch they play on shouldn´t matter. Witness Robinho playing on the left for an example of that.
I fancy Brazil, I really do, but they are going to run in to considerable trouble should Kaka (a) not regain his form if yesterseason and/or (b) get injured.
Brian Maxwell - saf.co.uk
:::2010-06-10 18:30:49
At the Confederations Cup last year Dunga introduced Alves at left back, and he looked solid; so you make a good point. The glaring omission is Andre Santos, who I personally feel done enough in that tournament to justify at least a place. I´d have him over Bastos - and certainly the woeful Gilberto - who looks dodgy. Even SWP troubled him. One thing is certain, there won´t be many teams in South Africa who´ll beat them in the air, despite Bastos.
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