The Hindu : Sport : Will the Brazilians justify their billing?

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Saturday, Jun 17, 2006

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Will the Brazilians justify their billing?

The Brazilians are failing strangely to function in attack, writes Brian Glanville

BERLIN: After Brazil's somewhat laborious 1-0 success against a defiant Croatia in their opening World Cup game, you did begin to wonder not whether Brazil would get through their group but whether they would ultimately justify their position as the initial favourites.

Without the inventive brilliance of Kaka, who took the winning goal so coolly and well, and of course the incomparable Ronaldinho, who all but headed a goal, they are failing strangely to function in attack. Adriano we know, after excelling in last summer's largely meaningless Confederations Cup, had a mediocre season with Inter in Italy and looked a blunt instrument against the tough Croats, however much he hustled.

As for Ronaldo playing in his third World Cup, his muted form did not belie his heavy appearance. And when he was replaced by his younger slimmer Real Madrid teammate, Robinho, there was no improvement. Ronaldo is a heavy veteran now, while Robinho failed to settle in his first Spanish season.

Now that Brazil continue to eschew wingers, there is quite a heavy burden on the veteran full-backs Cafu, who gave Ronaldinho his cross to head, and Roberto Carlos. And of course neither of them can get to the line in the classic manner of the great Garrincha.

In fact, the most dangerous striker afield was surely the Rangers man, Dado Prso, playing his last games for Croatia.

"I don't get stressed but I expect to score goals," he says, and he nearly did, frustrated only by an impressive save by Dida, the Brazilian keeper. Interesting that he should say before the tournament that Brazil would win it and Ronaldinho would be the star!

It was interesting to see the South Koreans belatedly bring on their striker Ahn, who hammered Italy, whose partnership with another quick little fellow in Manchester United's Park plus Togo's suicidal moment which cost them an expulsion and a goal from the free kick therefore awarded, made things happen for Korea at last.

For a team which thus won their first ever World Cup match away from home, it was odd, after the game, to hear the second consecutive Dutch coach of South Korea, Dick Advocaat — who had complained that whereas his predecessor Guus Hiddink, now here with Australia, had had his players for a whole year, he had had them for just a couple of weeks — state that he began the game with his best team.

Without Ahn, who scored one goal, revitalised Park and near the end almost scored another!

Togo showed character

But considering the endless turmoil in their camp, with the recently-acquired German coach Otto Pfister resigning twice but yet returning at the instance of the players, I thought Togo acquitted themselves well, showed pace and thrust in attack, resilience in defence.

This, through Emmanuel Adebayor, the lanky striker, whose 10 goals so surprisingly qualified Togo for the finals, and who has since joined Arsenal, had a disappointingly quiet afternoon.

Arsenal, however, can rejoice in the fact that they, just at the time Dennis Bergkamp retires, have found themselves a splendid bargain in Czech Tomas Rosicky, irrepressible against a stumbling USA defence which had early on contrived fatally to get on the wrong side of the towering Jan Koller, who promptly headed his team into the lead.

Rosicky proceeded to strike the woodwork and score twice, each time courtesy of a slow unintelligent USA defence.

Czechs will be a threat

The Czechs, with Pavel Nedved forcefully in midfield, having changed his mind about retiring from international soccer, will be a threat.

But what of a Spanish team which simply routed Ukraine, whose colossally expensive Andriy Shevchenko now yet another recruit for Chelsea, was scarcely to be seen, wholly outshone by the vigorous Spanish striker, David Villa, of Valencia, a relative newcomer to the side, preferred to Raul, who subbed him late on, linking dangerously with the other striker, Fernando Torres.

Ukraine were simply swept away, and there was a fierce confidence at last about this Spanish side, exemplified by the way they not only swiftly moved the ball in a four-man move but fought to hold on to it before it was nodded across for Fernando Torres to do final execution, 4-0.

Italy's win, after all those corruption scandals, will give them great heart for the rest of the tournament though huge ingenuousness in the Ghana defence gave them both their goals, Vincenzo Iaquinta simply strolling past Kuffour for the second.

Just as Australia's John Aloisi cruised through a feeble tackle to score his team's third against Japan, who having gone ahead with an illicit goal — even the referee apologised to the Aussies' maltreated keeper — simply and surprisingly fell to bits in the closing stages. Tim Cahill's second goal could surely have been averted by a defence which didn't deplorably stand off and watch till be shot.

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