World Cup Team Guide: Brazil

Brazil / Dave Farrar / 18 May 2010 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

Luis Fabiano's Brazil could have the whole world in their hands this summer

With Dunga as their coach, this Brazil side was never going to be as flashy and entertaining as others of yesteryear but that doesn't mean they're a worse side for it. This lot should be favourites to win the tournament, not Spain.

"In qualifying, Brazil scored more goals than any other side in their section, and conceded fewer. When you consider the extent to which some of the teams that finished behind them are fancied for South Africa 2010, it leads you to wonder whether Brazil are simply head and shoulders above most of the other challengers."

Dunga anchored the midfield of the most stifling and least thrilling Brazil team in recent memory, and he is likely to produce something similar in his role as coach. I don't think that the Brazil of 2010 will be as dull as the 1994 version, but it should be remembered that, for all that it was hard to love their style, they won in 94. And with a measure of the solidity that they showed then, they are in pole position to make Dunga that rare beast: a World Cup winner as a player and coach.

In qualifying, Brazil scored more goals than any other side in their section, and conceded fewer. When you consider the extent to which some of the teams that finished behind them are fancied to win the World Cup, it leads you to wonder whether Brazil are simply head and shoulders above most of the other challengers. CONMEBOL qualifying goes on for so long that of course there will be bad times, and Dunga had his when his team drew 0-0 at home against Argentina, Bolivia and Colombia, but they put their foot on the gas in hugely impressive fashion afterwards, working hard and going 11 games unbeaten. If you throw in a Confederations Cup win, then they look in perfect shape for a serious World Cup challenge.

COACH

Dunga

Dunga's job was to get Brazil focused and to allow them to make the most of their talents. After being so disappointing last time, they look primed and ready to go. Dunga has built a team in his own image, no nonsense and exceptionally well organised, but they're still Brazil, and will still look terrific against certain opposition. Dunga's greatest achievement is to flood the squad with belief, and to make sure that when their talent isn't enough, they have a tactical plan to fall back on. In my opinion it is they, and not Spain, who should be favourites for this World Cup.

Key Players

Luis Fabiano

You can watch Sevilla and spend half an hour wondering what all of the fuss is about, and then Luis Fabiano will do something that suddenly makes you understand. There's an overused cliché about certain strikers being "English style" centre forwards, and if that means straightforward, not flashy and a good finisher, then it applies to Fabiano. His goalscoring record for both his club and the national side is excellent, and he's certainly one to follow in the Top Goalscorer market.

Lucio

There was a period in Lucio's career when he was regarded as a fantastic ballplayer but something of a liability as a defender. He has always loved to stroll forward and involve himself in the play, and in his time in Germany there was a looseness about his game. His move to Italy, though, has been the making of him, and the defensive side of his game has come to the fore, under Jose Mourinho. He will be rock solid at the back, ensuring that Brazil have a platform on which to build.

Julio Cesar

Behind Lucio will be the man who is rightly regarded as the best goalkeeper in the world. Julio Cesar has only just got past Gigi Buffon, but those two are miles ahead of the rest in my opinion. He was fantastic in the qualifiers, and his save from Lionel Messi in the second leg of the Champions League semi final proved that he is capable of producing when it matters most.

Recommended Bet: Back Brazil to win Group G @ [1.65]

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