Goal-shy S.Africa hit Swazis for six

January 23, 2010

A bad week for South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira ended happily as the 2010 World Cup hosts overwhelmed Swaziland 6-2 in a non-cap friendly.

It was the first outing of the year for Bafana Bafana (The Boys), who face Mexico and former champions Uruguay and France in Group A during June at the most watched global sport event.

And while football minnows Swaziland conceded one soft goal after another at Chatsworth Stadium in this Indian Ocean city, when you coach goal-shy South Africa the sight of the ball hitting the net is always cause for celebration.

Gert van Schalkwyk and Franklin Cele scored twice each and Katlego Mphela and Thulani Serero once apiece for South Africa, who managed a miserable 10-goal return from 18 outings last year.

Despite the friendly billing, Swazi defender Sihawu Dlamini did not enter into the spirit of the occasion and two yellow cards led to his expulsion 12 minutes from full-time against an all-local South Africa line-up.

Parreira, who guided Brazil to victory in the 1994 World Cup and the quarter-finals in Germany four years ago, was furious after hopes of an early March start to a training camp in his homeland were dashed.

A club fixture clash between the South African Premiership and the African Football Confederation (CAF) meant the final round of domestic league fixtures had to be delayed one week to March 6 and the Brazil camp cut short.

South African officials say the national squad will also train in Germany during April and at Kempton Park on the north-east outskirts of Johannesburg the following month before facing Mexico in the June 11 World Cup opener.

Bafana, who changed the entire team at half-time, are likely to receive a greater examination of their progress after a two-week Durban camp when they face Zimbabwe in a friendly at Moses Mabhida Stadium next Wednesday.

DURBAN, South Africa (AFP)

Tags: african football confederation, bafana bafana, carlos alberto, Carlos Alberto Parreira, chatsworth, Chatsworth Stadium, club fixture, Durban, durban south africa, entire team, expulsion, Gert van Schalkwyk, global sport, Indian Ocean, kempton park, Mexico, minnows, ocean city, outskirts, quarter finals, S.Africa, South Africa, south africa coach, south african officials, sport event, uruguay, yellow cards, Zimbabwe

Few chances as Japan hold WCup hosts S.Africa

November 14, 2009

World Cup hosts South Africa and fellow 2010 qualifiers Japan drew 0-0 in Port Elizabeth on Saturday after a friendly of few scoring chances.

New Brazil-born coach Carlos Alberto Parreira expressed satisfaction that a run of eight South African losses in nine games had ended, but admitted there was considerable room for improvement when it comes to penetration.

“This was a difficult match because Japan came here having scored a lot of goals recently and I’m satisfied with our performance while accepting that we will have to do much better.

“Japan marked very well and that is why Benni McCarthy never got a clearcut chance, but for my first match back in charge it was okay,” said the coach who quit last year to be with his ill wife in Rio de Janeiro.

It was also a new start for striker McCarthy, axed by Brazilian coach Joel Santana after shunning a friendlies call-up, but his Japanese ‘minders’ ensured there would be no dream comeback goals after eight months in the wilderness.

The ‘Blue Samurai’ came closest to scoring through Makoto Hasebe and Shinji Okazaki in the first international staged at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, one of 10 venues where the first World Cup in Africa will be staged.

Man-of-the match and South Africa goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs foiled Hasebe from German champions Wolfsburg by tipping a fierce early drive over the bar before a near-capacity crowd.

Okazaki, hat-trick hero when Japan crushed Togo 5-0 at home last month, then beat Josephs from an acute angle only to see his shot trickle wide millimetres beyond the far post.

Tight marking by Japan, who will represent Asia in South Africa next year with Australia, North Korea and South Korea, meant Bafana Bafana (The Boys) rarely got within range to test goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima.

And when the Kawashi Frontale custodian was called into action, he showed his prowess by getting down quickly and parrying a Siphiwe Tshabalala ‘rocket’ away for a corner.

Katlego Mphela, the only South African to score since a fourth-place finish at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, had a chance as half-time loomed but fired wide.

The second half was even tighter with defences on top until 11 minutes from the final whistle when Josephs once again foiled Okazaki and that proved the final chance to end the stalemate.

South Africa complete their friendly schedule for this year against non-World Cup qualifiers Jamaica on Tuesday at Vodacom Stadium in the central city of Bloemfontein.

JOHANNESBURG (AFP)

Tags: acute angle, benni mccarthy, blue samurai, capacity crowd, Carlos Alberto Parreira, far post, friendlies, german champions, hat trick hero, ill wife, katlego mphela, kawashi, mandela bay, millimetres, minders, nelson mandela, new brazil, north korea and south korea, okazaki

SAfrica can reach WCup quarter-finals, says Parreira

November 6, 2009

New coach Carlos Alberto Parreira says struggling 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa can defy the odds and reach the quarter-finals.

“The greatest challenge is getting to the second phase. South Africa must work hard but I’m confident we will get there,” he told Brazilian television ahead of a second spell in charge of Bafana Bafana (The Boys).

“I hope that with the backing of home fans we will reach the quarter-finals and after that the sky is the limit,” said the 66-year-old, who guided Brazil to the 1994 World Cup title.

“The World Cup is kill, kill, kill, and it is not always the best teams that reach the final. It is different from a championship and I think we could have a very competitive team.”

Brave words from a man inheriting a national team ranked 85 in the world by FIFA and demoralised after eight losses in nine matches with the sole success coming at home against African lightweights Madagascar.

The defeats were inflicted by Spain (twice), Brazil and Serbia at home and away to Germany, Republic of Ireland, Norway and Iceland and cost another Brazilian, Joel Santana, his 200,000-dollar-a-month coaching post.

Parreira ended his first spell as a moderately successful coach of South Africa in mid-2008 to be with his ill wife in Rio de Janeiro and reportedly recommended Santana to take over despite no national team experience.

Toward the end of his reign Santana axed striker Benni McCarthy from English Premiership club Blackburn Rovers after he shunned a call-up for friendlies against Norway and Portugal.

Parreira has decided to give McCarthy, scorer of a record 31 goals for Bafana Bafana since his 1997 debut, another chance by naming him in a 24-man squad for home friendlies against Japan and Jamaica this month.

“I think Benni is the best South African striker and if he is willing to play, make sacrifices and commit himself to the team, he deserves an opportunity,” insisted Parreira.

South Africa, who qualified for the World Cup in 1998 and 2002 without progressing beyond the first round, hope to stage training camps at home and in Brazil and Germany before the June 11 to July 11 tournament.

“Training in Brazil will be a valuable experience, but we need an agreement with the coaches of the players’ clubs because the planned dates are not on the FIFA calendar and the teams are not obliged to release them.

“For the camps to be successful we need at least 70 percent of the main team present,” warned the Brazilian who also coached Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia at World Cup finals.

South Africa complete their 2009 friendly schedule with fixtures against Japan on November 14 in Port Elizabeth and Jamaica three days later in Bloemfontein.

JOHANNESBURG (AFP)

Tags: bafana bafana, benni mccarthy, brave words, brazilian television, carlos alberto, Carlos Alberto Parreira, competitive team, english premiership, friendlies, greatest challenge, home fans, Iceland, ill wife, Japan, Joel Santana, lightweights, man squad, Port Elizabeth, premiership club, quarter finals, republic of ireland, rio de janeiro, sky is the limit, south african striker, team experience

World Cup hosts SAfrica recall McCarthy

November 6, 2009

World Cup hosts South Africa recalled controversial striker Benni McCarthy Thursday for mid-November home friendlies against Japan and Jamaica.

The scorer of a record 31 Bafana Bafana (The Boys) goals was ignored for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa after shunning a call-up for warm-up games against Norway and Portugal.

McCarthy claimed he had a hamstring injury, but Blackburn Rovers medical staff said the 31-year-old who burst on to the international stage at the 1998 African Nations Cup was fit to play.

There was no place for Spain-based defender Nasief Morris in a 24-man squad chosen by coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, who replaced fellow Brazilian Joel Santana last month and is scheduled to hold his first media conference Friday.

Morris was dumped ahead of the Confederations Cup for indiscipline by Santana, sacked after South Africa suffered eight defeats in their last nine matches.

He shares with captain Aaron Mokoena the distinction of being the only South African footballers playing regularly in an elite European league and was widely expected to be recalled.

South Africa failed to score in away losses against Germany, Republic of Ireland, Norway and Iceland during the last two months, prompting calls from local coaches for McCarthy to be given yet another chance.

Although the outstanding goal predator since South Africa returned to international football in 1992 after three decades of apartheid-induced isolation, McCarthy has frequently ignored national team call-ups.

The Blackburn striker claims he is unfairly singled out as the Bafana ‘bad boy’ during cash-related disputes between the team and South African Football Association officials.

Anti-McCarthy officials and national team supporters accuse him of being an overweight “spoilt brat” wanting to wear national colours only when it suits him.

McCarthy has not impressed Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce this season and reports have linked him with a mid-season loan move to English Premiership strugglers Portsmouth.

The inclusion of midfielder Daine Klate from champions SuperSport United ends a long media campaign for the inclusion of one of the best crossers available to South Africa.

There were also places for three of the team that reached the second round of the World youth championship in Egypt last month – goalkeeper Darren Keet, midfielder Daylon Classen and striker Kermit Erasmus.

South Africa will play the friendlies at 2010 World Cup venues, hosting World Cup qualifiers Japan at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on November 14 in Port Elizabeth and Jamaica at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein three days later.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Rowen Fernandez (Arminia Bielefeld/GER), Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates), Darren Keet (Wits University)

Defenders: Morgan Gould and Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport Utd), Siboniso Gaxa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa/ISR), Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth/ENG, capt), Anele Ngcongca (Genk/BEL), Siyabonga Sangweni (Golden Arrows), Lucas Thwala (Pirates)

Midfielders: Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs), Daylon Classen (Ajax Amsterdam/NED), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Fulham/ENG), Daine Klate (SuperSport), Teko Modise (Pirates), Macbeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan/RUS), Elrio van Heerden (Blackburn/ENG)

Strikers: Mabhuti Khenyeza and Katlego Mphela (Sundowns), Kermit Erasmus (Excelsior Rotterdam/NED), Benni McCarthy (Blackburn/ENG), Bernard Parker (Twente/NED)

JOHANNESBURG (AFP)

Tags: 2009 fifa confederations cup, african nations cup, Amsterdam, association officials, bafana, Bay Stadium, Bernard Parker, Bloemfontein, captain Aaron Mokoena, carlos alberto, Carlos Alberto Parreira, Darren Keet, Egypt, english premiership, friendlies, fulham, GER, Germany, Iceland, indiscipline, international football, international stage, Joel Santana, Kermit Erasmus, last two months, Lucas Thwala, man squad, Morris, national colours, NED, nelson mandela, Norway, Orlando, Portsmouth, portugal, republic of ireland, ROTTERDAM, Sam, south african football, south african football association, Spain, spoilt brat, team supporters, three decades, warm up games

Parreira’s return condemned by South African media

October 27, 2009

Carlos Alberto Parreira’s return as South Africa coach has been widely pilloried in the country’s media, a stark contrast to the almost universal approval he received when he took the job the first time round in late 2006.

Parreira has been enticed back in the wake of the firing of compatriot Joel Santana last week, as the World Cup hosts battle to drag their national side out of a spiral of long-term mediocrity.

Parreira was supposed to be the architect of a plan to build a competitive South African side to set the 2010 tournament alight.

But when his wife fell ill, he had little option to quit and return home to Rio de Janeiro.

Failure to properly explain the reasons for his departure, combined with a simmering discontent over the amount of money he was being paid, obviously touched a sensitive nerve, because his return has been widely condemned.

Columnists across the South African media have raged against his re-appointment and, more to the point, the failure of the South African Football Association to appoint a locally-born coach in the wake of Santana’s departure.

Just why a local would supercede the decades of World Cup experience Parreira has amassed has not been sufficiently explained.

Parreira will likely be surprised by the tone of the ‘welcome’ he will get when he arrives in Johannesburg soon to resume the job. He seemed to have the team on an upward curve during his first tenure but after his departure they have headed steadily downwards, even if there were some bright spots during June’s Confederations Cup.

The South African soccer scene is fickle, which could work in Parreira’s favour. Should he be able to engineer victories in the next two warm-up games, at home to Japan and Jamaica in mid-November, he could well be back on an African honeymoon.

PHOTO: Parreira, REUTERS/Masimba Sasa

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Tags: carlos alberto, Carlos Alberto Parreira, compatriot, cup experience, discontent, Jamaica, Japan, Joel Santana, johannesburg, mediocrity, rio de janeiro, sasa, South Africa, south africa coach, south african football, south african football association, stark contrast, universal approval

UPDATE: Should South Africa have gone local?

October 24, 2009

(Updates after Parreira appointed)

Joel Santana arrived for what he thought was a routine review of his work with his South African Football Association bosses on Monday and within hours was packing his bags for a return to Brazil, ending his tenure as the 15th coach employed by South Africa in the last 17 years.

The run of poor results in recent internationals plus last year’s early elimination from the African Nations Cup qualifiers, had left Bafana Bafana in deep crisis, a team without any confidence or direction and running out of time before hosting the 2010 World Cup finals.

Santana had done himself few favours, first with his inability to learn passable English even after 18 months in the country and secondly his glib answers to increasingly concerned questions about the progress of the team. His side have looked listless and without direction in recent matches.

Santana was the second coach in the country’s Brazilian experiment, following Carlos Alberto Parreira as South Africa turned to the land of the five-time word champions for the expertise to mould their 2010 team.

Parreira has now returned to the job. He quit in April 2008 after his wife was found to have cancer. She has since recovered and he had indicated over the last days he would be interested in returning to the job.

There was, however, a clamour for a local coach to take over, with popular sentiment believing the experiment with foreign coaches has failed. In the past the deluge of callers to phone-in shows on radio and TV has influenced the decision of SAFA, which makes for a potentially dangerous decision-making.

The issue of Santana’s successor was discussed on Friday by the association’s leadership and Parreira will be in charge for the next internationals at home to Japan and Jamaica in mid-November. He will have six months to resurrect the country’s hopes of at least making it past the first round.

PHOTO: Carlos Alberto Parreira reacts during a match against Swaziland at Ellis Park in Johannesburg March 13, 2007. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

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Parreira, Mosimane ready to revive WC hosts SAfrica

October 22, 2009

Former colleagues Carlos Alberto Parreira and Pitso Mosimane are ready to accept the challenge of transforming struggling 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa into a formidable force.

The national football association is scheduled to reveal Friday who will succeed Brazilian coach Joel Santana, fired this week after a run of eight losses from nine outings.

Santana last year replaced compatriot Parreira, who left Bafana Bafana (The Boys) after 16 months in charge to return home and aid his ill wife who has made a full recovery.

Parreira and Santana had the same assistants, Brazilian Jairo Leal and former South Africa striker and SuperSport United coach Mosimane, while in charge of a team that has slumped to a 16-year low of 85 in the world ratings.

“It is possible for me to work in South Africa again,” Parreira told the Brazilian media soon after being fired by Rio de Janeiro-based Fluminense following a string of poor results.

“There is immense pressure on the national team as World Cup hosts and I know the people of that country respect me. I believe they want to retain a Brazilian system of play.”

Mosimane told local journalists that South African Football Association (SAFA) officials indicated he was being groomed to take over Bafana after the 32-nation world championship next June and July.

“That has been my ambition all along, but if taking over immediately would help my country then I am available for the challenge,” stressed the former Greece-based professional.

“On the other hand, if the national association appoint Carlos or someone else I will remain totally dedicated in my role of assistant coach and give 100 percent support.”

Spain (twice), Brazil, Serbia, Germany, Republic of Ireland, Norway and Iceland inflicted defeats on Bafana in a five-month spell from hell that cost 60-year-old Santana his 200,000-dollar-a-month post.

His sole success since June came at home to African minnows Madagascar, the sort of opposition that brought the South American many of his 10 victories in 27 matches since taking charge in mid-2008.

The run of losses plunged South African football into an advance state of depression with politicians, officials, coaches and players debating cures for the national-team ills.

Many fear that unless desperate measures are taken, the first African country to stage the World Cup will also become the first host nation to be eliminated after the first round.

Gavin Hunt, a South African who has coached SuperSport to two league titles in a row and been linked with the national post, labelled Santana “a disgrace” after the 1-0 loss at football lightweights Iceland last week.

Bafana have friendly fixtures scheduled against fellow World Cup qualifiers Japan in Johannesburg on November 14 and against Jamaica in Bloemfontein three days later.

JOHANNESBURG (AFP)

Tags: ambition, assistant coach, Bloemfontein, Carlos, carlos alberto, Carlos Alberto Parreira, compatriot, Gavin Hunt, greece, Iceland, immense pressure, Jamaica, Joel Santana, johannesburg, Madagascar, minnows, nation world, Norway, republic of ireland, rio de janeiro, santana, South Africa, south african football, south african football association, South American, Spain, striker, vict

Can Santana cling on to South Africa job?

October 17, 2009

South Africa coach Joel Santana has been given two more games to show progress with his side or face being fired just six months before the country hosts the 2010 World Cup finals.

A growing clamour for the departure of the 60-year-old, who came into the job 18 months ago after Carlos Alberto Parreira was forced to quit because of his wife’s illness, has been given momentum by two lethargic performances in Norway and Iceland.

Bafana Bafana lost both games 1-0 and have now been defeated in eight of their last nine matches –- the only positive was a hastily-arranged match against Madagascar last month that could barely be called a proper international but which South Africa won 1-0 to help massage the stark statistics.

This year, South Africa have scored 10 goals in 16 internationals and remain toothless upfront.

Santana is now facing a cacophony of calls for the return of Benni McCarthy, the country’s most controversial sportsman. Without a proven goalscorer he is in demand again, although Santana refuses to pick what he feels is a disruptive influence on his group.

The recent election of South African Football Association president Kirsten Nematandani initially spelt doom for Santana. Nematandani’s campaign manifesto included a promise to get rid of the unpopular Brazilian but since taking office he has tempered his stance.

The first step towards his possible dismissal by the year-end is the appointment of a group of three ‘assessors’ who will decide whether Santana is making any progress or not.

The trio is made up of two former `Bafana coaches – Jomo Sono and Clive Barker – and Gavin Hunt, who has led SuperSport United to the last two South African Premier League titles.

The ‘assessors’ won’t be making any recommendations on Santana’s competency until after the next warm-up games at home to Japan on Nov. 14 and Jamaica three days later.

Santana has done himself no favours by trotting out the same old excuses every time the team loses. Among them is a reminder that Germany, too, struggled in their build up to the 2006 World Cup finals which they hosted.

“And look how well they then went on to do,” Santana tells reporters.

But few believe South Africa have any chance of getting anywhere near the knockout round next June, nevermind the semi-final.

PHOTO: South Africa coach Joel Santana reacts at the end of their international friendly soccer match against Serbia at the Super stadium in Pretoria August 12, 2009. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

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Tags: association president, bafana bafana, benni mccarthy, cacophony, carlos alberto, Carlos Alberto Parreira, clive barker, competency, disruptive influence, favours, Gavin Hunt, Germany, Iceland, internationals, Jamaica, Japan, Joel Santana, Madagascar, pretoria, santana, South Africa, south africa coach, south african football, south african football association, south african premier league, warm up games, world cup finals

Friendly failures may spell end for SAfrica coach

October 10, 2009

World Cup hosts South Africa could dump Brazilian coach Joel Santana if they suffer embarrassing friendly defeats in Norway Saturday and Iceland three days later.

Santana has been under public, media and official fire after six losses in seven outings with the sole success coming via a solitary goal at home to African featherweights Madagascar last month.

The national football association reacted by naming three “assessors” – former national coaches Clive Barker and Jomo Sono and top South African Premiership coach Gavin Hunt – to report on the national team.

This heightened a rumour mill already awash with names of possible new coaches, including Santana predecessor Carlos Alberto Parreira and recently fired Poland coach Leon Beenhakker.

While some believe it is far too late for the South African ship to change skippers, they ignore a history of last-minute upheaval ahead of World Cup tournaments.

Fiery Frenchman Philippe Troussier replaced Barker just three months before the 1998 World Cup in his homeland and Sono succeeded Portuguese Carlos Queiroz 12 weeks ahead of the 2002 tournament.

South Africa were eliminated after the first round on both occasions, failed to reach the 2006 finals in Germany, and made it to 2010 because the host nation qualifies automatically.

National association spokesman Raymond Hack attempted to douse the flames of discontent this week by saying the future of 200,000-dollar-a-month Santana had not even been discussed.

But well-placed sources speaking on condition of anonymity suggested the 60-year-old Brazilian who rarely speaks English publicly is already on the plank, sharks are circling, and what happens in northern Europe is irrelevant.

Experienced midfield enforcer Benson Mhlongo raised a serious concern: “The players are aware of the pressure. I can handle it but I’m worried about the younger members of our squad.”

And striker Katlego Mphela conceded Santana media speculation was affecting morale: “Talk about the coach has become such a distraction for us. Things are so intense sometimes we do not know what to expect the next day.”

Anger at the coach with no national team experience before taking charge of Bafana Bafana (The Boys) in mid-2008 soared after losses in Germany and the Republic of Ireland last month.

No realistic South African supporter expected a team ranked 73 in the world to win in Leverkusen but the timid 2-0 surrender only emboldened the anti-Santana brigade, as did a one-goal defeat in Limerick three days later.

Up against a virtual Irish B team, Bafana enjoyed 70 percent possession without managing to create a single clearcut chance and a first-half goal direct from a free kick settled a lacklustre friendly.

The ‘charge sheet’ against Santana, whose only competitive victories in 11 games have come against Equatorial Guinea and New Zealand, centres on a defence that cannot keep clean sheets and an attack blunter than a rusty knife.

Lady luck jilts Santana, too. When Mphela scored twice against mighty Spain in the 2009 Confederations Cup third-place play-off, uncharacteristic blunders by goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune condemned the host nation to a 3-2 loss.

South Africa defeated Norway 2-1 in scorching Rustenburg last March but are likely to find the reception in Oslo cooler all round while a previous visit to Reykjavik ended in a humiliating 4-1 reverse.

JOHANNESBURG (AFP)

Tags: anonymity, beenhakker, Carlos Alberto Parreira, Carlos Queiroz, clive barker, discontent, Equatorial Guinea, featherweights, frenchman philippe troussier, Gavin Hunt, Germany, host nation, Iceland, Joel Santana, jomo sono, katlego mphela, Leon Beenhakker, Limerick, Madagascar, media speculation, midfield, national coaches, national football association, New Zealand, northern europe, Norway, oslo, Philippe Troussier, Poland, Raymond Hack, republic of ireland, reykjavik, Rumour Mill, skippers, solitary goal, Spain, upheaval

Brazil look unbeatable but have they peaked too soon?

September 7, 2009

Ten wins in a row and unbeaten for eighteen games. The run includes 2-0 and 3-0 wins over Italy, 4-0 wins in Uruguay and Venezuela, 3-0 in Chile and, of course, Saturday’s 3-1 demolition of Argentina, the first time Brazil’s arch-rivals have lost at home for 16 years. Nothing, it seems, can stand in the way of Dunga’s Brazil and and a sixth world title.

There’s only one small problem: everyone was saying the same about Carlos Alberto Parreira’s team four years ago after they won the Confederations Cup with a 4-1 win over Argentina in the final. Like Dunga’s team, they were Copa America champions at the time and their so-called Magic Quarter of Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka and Adriano looked unstoppable.

Instead, Brazil relaxed. They took the Confederations Cup too seriously, forgetting that the Argentine side they had beaten was a second-string line-up. Their pre-World Cup training camp in the small Swiss village of Weggis had a carnival atmosphere. Five thousand paying spectators packed a specially constructed arena to watch every single training session. A subdued World Cup campaign ended with a 1-0 defeat to France in the quarter-finals.

This time, the Brazilian confederation has vowed not to repeat the mistakes. Dunga, who shuns celebrity status for both himself and his players, is probably the last coach in the world who would accept such a set-up. But there are other things which could go wrong.

Brazil are heavily dependant on striker Luis Fabiano and goalkeeper Julio Cesar and a loss of form for either player would seriously weaken them.

Luis Fabiano has scored five goals at the Confederations Cup and nine in the World Cup qualifiers despite playing in only nine of their 15 games. They have looked fairly toothless when he has been absent .Julio Cesar has been in inspired form and has often made the difference.

Luck also comes into it and Brazil have been getting all the breaks recently. Their match away to Ecuador in March last June was an extraordinarily one-sided affair in which the hosts should have been several goals to the good by halftime. Instead, Brazil somehow sneaked a 1-1 draw.

Brazil again found themselves under the cosh in Uruguay, yet managed to go in 2-0 ahead at halftime thanks to some more heroics from Julio Cesar and a blunder from his opposite number Sebastian Viera. It was a similar story on Saturday when Argentina did all the attacking but Brazil led 2-0 at halftime. And we must not forget the farcical penalty which gave them a 4-3 win over Egypt at the Confederations Cup.

Brazil’s World Cup opponents are less likely to play into their hands than their South American neighbours.

Dunga has turned Brazil into a counter-attacking outfit who are at their most comfortable away from home against teams who come out and take the initiative.

Argentina, who have descended into chaos under the leadership of Diego Maradona, played straight into Dunga’s hands as they poured forward in Rosario and left gaping holes at the back.

World Cup opponents are likely to be play more like Colombia and Bolivia, who both held on for goalless draws in Rio de Janeiro as they exposed Brazil’s lack of ideas when faced with packed defences.

PHOTO: Brazil players salute their supporters at the end of the World Cup qualifying win over Argentina in Rosario, September 5, 2009 REUTERS/Enrique Marcarian

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