Background
Brazil has the distinction of winning the World Cup five times, a record not emulated by any other country. They have participated in every World Cup played from the first in 1930.
The road to the 2010 FIFA World Cup
Brazil has never failed to qualify for the finals of the World Cup. But the football fanatic Brazilians have always been jittery about qualification and even a drawn game would spark off discussions about the chances of being eliminated. It’s just that the public expects and wants nothing less than victory from their national team in every game they play.
Brazil had to compete in a ten-team table in the CONMEBOL zone, the top four getting automatic entry to the final round and the fifth-placed team going for the play-offs.
The opener was an away match against Colombia in October 2007. The Copa America champions could manage only a goalless draw. Immediately the fans started lamenting and put severe pressure on the players and the coach. But there was joy for the supporters in the next game with Brazil swamping Ecuador 5-0. Kaka scored a brace while Ronaldinho, Vagner Love, and Elano netted one each
There was further disappointment for Brazil fans as they drew 1-1 against low ranked Peru, Kaka scoring Brazil’s only goal.
After three rounds, Brazil had only one win to show and had lost four points out of a possible nine.
They next clashed with formidable Uruguay in a home game in November. Abreu stunned the home team early in the encounter. However, Sevilla’s Luis Fabiano came to the team’s rescue with a brace.
The seven month break that followed, however, did not bring any drastic alteration in the fortunes of the team. On June 15th 2008, Brazil lost 2-0 away to Paraguay and held to a goalless draw at home three days later by Argentina.
These results upset the Brazilian fans and there was immense pressure on the team and the players finally delivered. Brazil overcame Chile 3-0 helped by Luis Fabiano’s brace anda Robinho goal. The cheers had hardly died down when Brazil were held goalless at home to Bolivia. There seemed to be a pattern in Brazil’s progress in the qualifiers. One win was followed by a draw.
Keeping up with this, Brazil crushed Venezuela in San Cristobal 4-0, Robinho clinching a brace and one each from Kaka and Adriano. But in round 10 saw Colombia held Brazil to a 0-0 parity.
The opening match of the qualifiers in 2009 ended in another draw with Ecuador neutralizing the one goal advantage in the last minute. On April 1st, the home side cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory against Peru, even as the headline of the day was Argentina’s surprising 6-1 loss away to Bolivia.
The pattern of a draw following a win seemed to have finally changed as Brazil broke a jinx by thrashing Uruguay away for the first time in 33 years. Daniel Alves, Juan, Kaka, and Luis Fabiano scored one each in a 4-0 result.
Four days later Brazil rallied from behind to subdue Paraguay 2-1 in Recife. Cabanas’ 25th minute goal had put the visitors in the lead but Robinho and Nilmar’s strikes in each half saw Brazil having the last laugh.
The Btazilian team was then off to South Africa, to defend their Confederations Cup title. In what the hosts saw as a dress rehearsal for the big show in 2010, Brazil retained the trophy.
Invigorated by the success in South Africa and brimming with confidence, Brazil stifled Argentina 3-1, helped by Luis Fabiano’s brace. With this win Brazil place in the 2010 World Cup was sealed.
Brazil celebrated this with a 4-2 victory at home to Chile thanks to Nilmar’s glorious hat-trick. But they then lost 2-1 away to Bolivia and drew goal less against Venezuela in the last game of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. However the one point earned was enough for Brazil to top the group with 34 points, just above Chile and Paraguay who picked up 33 points. In the 18 games they played Brazil had lost only two but had drawn too many.
Star men
Kaka;
The playmaker in number 10 jersey, is in fine nick as revealed in the qualifiers and the 2009 Confederations Cup. He influences the game with his runs, his attitude and his zeal for the game. Kaka seems to use his intelligence on the field of play to read and anticipate the moves of the opposing players and hence closely marked.
Luis Fabiano;
Luis Fabiano is a hero when he dons the Brazil cap. He becomes a prolific scorer and a thorn on the side of his opponents. Not much of a dribbler of the ball, his aim always is the back of the net. Fabiano had a fabulous run in the qualifiers and he topped it up with a brace against Italy in the 2009 Confederations Cup tournament. A player all other teams apprehensive of.
Robinho;
Underutilised at Manchester City, Robinho is raring to go all out for his country. His dribbling skills, pace and accuracy makes him a dangerous proposition for any opposition.
COACH: DUNGA
South Africa 2010 is Dunga’s first World Cup as a coach. But he goes to the big arena with an impressive record to flaunt. His major victories include the 2007 Copa América and the 2009 Confederations Cup. Dunga’s only defeat in big time football was in the 2008 Olympics at the hands of Argentina.
Dunga takes defeat personally and he paid back the Olympics loss to Argentina 3-1 immediately afterwards in the qualifiers. This feature of his makes him an intense coach and in turn motivates the players to the optimum. Dunga respects only performance and not reputation. Even the brightest star, if not consistent, will have no place in Dunga’s scheme of things.
Objectives
As in all the preceding World Cups, Brazil’s aim will be the crown of glory, nothing less. In the last edition, they were packed off by France in the quarter finals. There were many off the field incidents and the team morale was not at its peak. But now they have a no nonsense coach at the helm and all that they have to do is to live up to the expectations the big names in the team evoke.
Brazil – FIFA World Cup record
2014, 2010: Qualified
2006, 1986, 1954: Quarter-finals
2002, 1994, 1970, 1962, 1958: Champions
1998, 1950: Runners-up
1990: Round of 16
1982: Second Round
1978, 1974, 1938: Semi-finals
1966, 1934, 1930: First Round
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