World Cup Preview - Group G - Brazil
Nickname: “A Selecao”FIFA ranking: 1st
Coach: 1994 World Cup winning skipper Dunga.
Game Schedule:
June 15 – Brazil vs. North Korea (Port Elizabeth, 2:30 p.m. EST, ESPN)
June 20 – Brazil vs. Ivory Coast (Jo'burg, 2:30 p.m., ABC)
June 25 – Brazil vs. Portugal (Durban, 10 a.m., ESPN)
Prospects: Brazil top this year's Group of Death, which will produce some of the most fascinating match-ups of the group stage. But put aside all of those "jogo bonito" fantasies; this is a selecao managed by one of the most negative players ever produced by Brazil and all indications are that Brazil 2010 will be a professional, even drab, outfit. Despite these misgivings, the Little Canaries are always full of surprises and I can't wait to see what they produce.
Key Player: Barcelona's Danny Alves is one of those rare quantities in world football - a player who is essentially unplayable; his runs from deep are impossible to pick up.
Youngster to watch: All eyes will be on 22 year old Real Madrid galactico Robinho.
Who Will Get the Goals: I like the cut of Luis Fabiano's jib - he's in with a shout at the Golden Boot.
Who Will Get the Cards: I find that Inter Milan right back Maicon is essentially a frustrated winger often found out of position with obvious results.
Funniest Name: For the third competition running - Kaka!
Prediction: Beaten in a thrilling final on July 11 by new champions Spain.
posted by The Blue Devil @ 6:40 PM
4 Comments:
I refuse to drink the KoolAid about Danny Alves. Yeah, he gets forward, but he's really a low-end-product guy. Every once in a while something sensational, sure. But about the same strike rate as Roberto Carlos, and only marginally better at defending.
My key man would be Kaka. He bosses the midfield and provides the platform for all that fancy dan nonsense from Robinho or Luis Fabiano which is why you tune in to watch Brazil.
Luis Fabiano is a great shout for Golden Boot if Brazil do manage to break down the North Koreans at will.
I'd be all over Kaka again, except that he had a truly wretched season at Real. Who knows - maybe he can drink the Jesus juice and prove everyone wrong again by lighting it up. I'd love to see it - apart from against England.
Brazil is my pick to win it all. They are not the most entertaining team even though they can be when necessary.They are solid and really don't have any weaknesses. Danny Alves will be on the bench as Maicon is the first choice right right back. I predict that Lucio will get the cards as he is a really physical, old fashioned style defender. He is excellent at set pieces. The only change I would make is to replace Rubinho in the squad with Pato. I think Kaka will get it right as he excels with this group of players. Brazil usually wins the World Cup win the tournament is played outside Europe.
5-1 win yesterday against Tanzania. Sure, weak opposition but they were still very impressive with Robinho scoring and Kaka chipping in with one.
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