WC Profile : Brazil

The favourites for this world cup or every WC(yes, almost all WC brazil are considered the favs except of course of 1994 and 2002 when they found it difficult to qualify but went on to win the WC). The greatest footballing nation and the only nation to win WC more than 3 times, 5 times to be exact.

History World cup winners in 1958,1962,1970,1994,2002. WC finalists in 1998,1950 (Brazil historically lost to Uruguay). The legends of Brazil are some of the greatest footballers have come from brazil and boast an unrivalled history in producing super stars. Charles Miller (father of brazilian football ), Pele (O' Rei is a 3 times WC winner), Mane Garrincha (2 time WC winner, one of the best Right wingers ever), Vava, Didi (both these players figured prominently in the WC 1958 and 1962 campaign), Carlos alberto (winning captain of 1970 Brazil team), Jarzinho, Tastao, Gerson, Rivelino (prominent players alongside Pele in the 1970 WC winning dream team), Zico, Socrates, Tony Cerezo (players of the famous 1982 WC team), Romario, Bebeto, Dunga, Taffarel (Players who played in the WC winning 1994 team), Ronaldo, Cafu, Roberto Carlos(2002 WC winning team), and of late Ronaldinho (not quite a great but if he continues to play at this level definitely will be there). Brazil also boasts very successful coaches like Carlos Alberto Perrera (WC winning coach 1994 and also the current coach)., Mario Zagallo(technical director of the current team and WC 1998 coach), Luis Felipe Scholari (current coach of Portugal, and coach of the 2002 WC winning team), Tele Santana(coach of the famous 1982 WC team). Brazil has also won the Copa America 7 times and have been the runner-ups 6 times. The one trophy that is conspicuously missing from the cabinet of the selecao is the olympic gold.
I do not want to bore you with any further history, you can find more details in the CBF (Brazilian football federation) website.

Team:
The current national team has 21 players playing in Europe and 2 players playing in Brazil. The current team has 2 players who have won the World Player of the Year and 3 players (no guesses who they are )to win the Ballon d'Or (the two + Roberto Carlos).

I will start with the Brazilian attack.


Brazil boasts an embarrasment of riches in the attack. The current forward line up is even compared to the all-conquering 1970 Brazilian team. Brazil's squad strength mainly lies in the attacking prowess of these players. The brazilian system, under CP (Carlos Parreira), works with the forwards attacking from the middle of the park and the RB/LB's overlapping to effectively fill the role of the wingers. Usually when the opposing team has a strong defence, Carlos and Cafu tend to get a little too forward. Then the Defensive midfielders (Emerson, Silvinho, Gilberto Silva) drop back and effectively perform the role of the wing backs.

Forwards:
The magic quartret is the backbone of the brazilian team. CP has a found a neat way of accomodating all the 4 players namely, Dinho, R9, Adriano, and Kaka. Kaka and Dinho tend to attack from the left and move into the center, CP has moved kaka a bit out of position, Kaka plays in the right mid field and also plays a bit deeper almost in the center of the park. Dinho also plays a bit deeper from his normal playing position for Barca. This system seems to work well for the Selecao.

Ronaldo: The most prolific goal-scorer of the current Brazilian team. O' Phenomenon is one of the most consistent strikers in world football. The player of WC 2002 and WPOY winner of 1996,1997, and 2002. R9 plays for Real Madrid. Although R9 has currently put on weight and is also a yard and a half slower as compared to the pre-1998 days, still he is one of the most dreaded strikers around. R9, needless to say, has some amazing skills though he is not that good in air. Without doubt, R9 will start in the game against Croatia.

Adriano: The Emperor is the latest addition to the roster of strikers from Brazil. Adriano plays for Inter-Milan in Italy. Adriano is an un-brazilian striker, well-built with amazingly subtle skills and a powerful left foot. Adriano of late has been handed the task of taking free-kicks in Inter-Milan. He is also good in air and does possess some good skills. This season has not been good for the emperor but he does tend to play better for Brazil than for the club. Adriano should make it to the starting XI of Brazil.

Ronaldinho: Dinho is currently the best player in world. He was the key to the revival of Barca in 2004. Dinho has improved vastly over the last year. Needless to say, he has some wonderful skills which he uses at crucial moments, unlike other players like Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) or Zlatan (Sweden) who over use it. Dinho, of late, has developed an amazing vision and can create some splendid opportunities for his team-mates. He is also extremely quick and is very deadly on a counter attack(It is wrong to point out only Dinho it is a general case of the Brazilian team).

Ricky Kaka: Kaka plays his club football for AC-Milan. Personally, my favourite player wearing the Selecao shirt. Kaka is a true example of an attacking midfielder. Kaka is deadly when he is provided space, just rewind to the Champions League final 2005 first half and most of the goals scored in that half were from kaka moves. He is also very quick and has a very good vision. Kaka plays in a slightly deeper position in the NT. Shd make it to the starting XI.

Robinho: A player with wonderful skills and an amazing talent. Plays his club football for Real Madrid. Robinho was one of the players, alongside Diego, of the successful Santos team of 2004-05. When he made the inevitable move across the Atlantic to Madrid, he was expected to deliver instant results for Real Madrid, which did not happen. Of late, he has begun to show his true quality for Madrid and is the future of Madrid. But, he has yet to prove his true value for the national team though robinho did played well in the Confed cup.

Midfielders
Brazil does boast a decent midfield, with the midfield primarly consisting of Defensive midfielders. Note that brazil does not have a true play maker who dictates the game sitting deep in the half.

Emerson: Emerson is a decent DM. He plays his club football for Juve in Italy. Emerson is not quick and cannot play in an attacking role. He is ideally suited for the current Brazilian team which is overflowing with attack.

Ze Roberto: Ze is a DM who also plays . Ze has some decent skills and is also a decent dribbler. He plays his club football for Bayern Munich and also had a major role to play in the fortuneof Bayer Laverkuersen in 2002. Bayer reached the final of Champions League in 2002.

Juninho Pernambuchano: A wonderful midfield player who tends to create some good goal scoring opportunities for the forwards. Juninho is also the best in the business in dead ball situations. Juninho plays his club football for Lyon and has been the backbone of success of the Lyon team in 2005 and 2006.

Gilberto Silva: Gilberto plays his club football for Arsenal . He is a decent DM.