Sport | Football
Brazil ready to mount strong defence
Brazil have many of the best players in the world, a record five World Cup titles and one of the greatest traditions in soccer. The national team have won two of the last three titles and is coming off a successful season last year.
- AP
- Published: 00:00 May 9, 2006
- Ricardo Texeira, the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), said yesterday that he wants Carlos Alberto Parreira to stay on as national coach after the Fifa World Cup finals. "For me, Parreira will not be going," said Texeira. "Parreira has all the conditions and the right profile to continue in charge."
- Brazil: Founded: 1914
- World Cup appearances: 17 (1930, 1934, 1938, 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002)
- World Cup honours: 5-time FIFA World Cup winners (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002), 2-time FIFA World Cup runners-up (1950, 1998), twice finished in 3rd place (1938, 1978).
Very few people are betting against Brazil at the World Cup. Brazil have many of the best players in the world, a record five World Cup titles and one of the greatest traditions in soccer. The national team have won two of the last three titles and is coming off a successful season last year.
There's no denying Brazil are heavily favoured to win the tournament in Germany. The Brazilians admit that as do most of their opponents.
The Brazilians, however, will be the first to point out that things likely won't be as easy as they look.
"It's true that we have great chances to win the World Cup," Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said recently. "But that doesn't mean it's a done deal, we still need to play the matches and win them. And we know that's not going to be easy. All teams will be trying their best to beat the defending champions."
Brazil are a stronger favourites than ever as this World Cup approaches.
In addition to comfortably leading Fifa's world rankings since 2002, Brazil won the 2004 Copa America and last year's Confederations Cup. It also finished first in the South American World Cup qualifying group, ahead of rival Argentina.
The team will be led by two-time Fifa Player of the Year Ronaldinho, and he will be supported by stars including Kaka, Ronaldo, Adriano, Cafu, Robinho and Roberto Carlos. "We have a very strong team, very technical and experienced," Ronaldo said.
Brazil's World Cup record is hard to be matched. Brazil have reached the semifinals in 10 of the 17 World Cups since the competition started in 1930 and are the only team to have played in every tournament. They were the runners-up twice, including in 1998 to hosts France.
Outscoring opponents
Brazil have played 87 World Cup matches, winning 60 (including the last seven), drawing 14 and losing only 13. They have outscored their opponents 191-82.
But no matter how good Brazil may be, history shows they might have a hard time in Germany.
After winning their first two titles in 1958 and 1962, Brazil were heavily favoured to clinch a third in 1966 in England. Even with Pele in his prime, the team played poorly and were eliminated in the first round.
Another disappointment took place in the 1974 World Cup in West Germany, after Brazil's dazzling campaign to win their third title in the 1970 tournament in Mexico. This time without Pele, Brazil were eliminated by the Netherlands and they finished fourth.
"Several times, the favourites came back home early," Parreira said. "Just remember France and Argentina in 2002 they had chances to win the title but were knocked out early."
In 1982 in Spain, Brazil assembled a great team with stars, including Zico, Socrates and Falcao. The team enchanted fans and cruised through the first two rounds, then were shocked 3-2 by Italy when they needed only a draw to advance.
By contrast, Brazil's fourth and fifth titles came when they were not heavily favoured. In 1994, with Parreira in command, Brazil surprised everyone en route to the championship in the United States. And in 2002, the Brazilians won, despite limping into the finals in South Korea and Japan, clinching a berth only in their last qualifying match.
"When a national team is too superior than another technically, things can get out of control," Pele said recently. "The other team will enter the field, knowing they have to play their best. They will play harder to try to overcome their disadvantage."
Everyone will be aiming for the five-time champions. If Brazil win a sixth title, it will be at least another 12 years or 2018 before the Brazilians can be matched by another team.
Italy and Germany are the closest to Brazil in titles, with three each. Argentina and Uruguay are next with two each.
"All teams that made it to the World Cup finals play at a very high level and all of them will be extra motivated to try to beat Brazil," Ronaldinho said.
Slight European edge
The Europeans will have a slight edge with the tournament being played in the old continent. European nations have won eight of the nine World Cups played there.
In their past 19 matches since 2005, Brazil have lost only three times, but all of the losses came against possible World Cup opponents. They fell 3-1 to Argentina and 1-0 to Ecuador in the South American World Cup qualifying and 1-0 to Mexico in the Confederations Cup.
This year, Brazil are in Group F with Croatia, Australia and Japan. Brazil and Croatia drew the only two times they played, including 1-1 in a friendly last August.
The Brazilians have a winning record against Australia, having won three of their five matches. Australia beat Brazil 1-0 the last time the teams met in the 2001 Confederations Cup in South Korea.
And if you still believe Brazil are the overwhelming favourites, listen to what Ronaldo has to say: "This could be one of the most even World Cups ever."
Team facts
Group F
Teams (With world rankings)
1-Brazil; 19-Croatia; 44-Australia; 18-Japan
Quick take
As trainer of his native Netherlands, Australia coach Guus Hiddink lost to both Brazil and Croatia at France 98
Coach: Carlos Alberto Parreira
Player to watch: Ronaldinho
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