World

South America

Brazil

Brazil to test itself against Japan

June 20th, 2006 | By: Zé Fernando | 43 Comments »

Brazil plays Japan next Thursday. Already qualified for the next round, Parreira could use that game to test a few different players in antecipation for the next tough games Brazil is sure to have.

Parreira already told the press that he expects to use Ronaldo again for at least 70 minutes. However, he was pretty clear in saying that the team isn’t yet decided - not confirming nor denying anything - so I like to believe that chances are high that we’ll see the likes of Robinho, Juninho Pernambucano, Fred and others on the team, maybe even starting the game on the first squad or coming in for the second half (that is, for more than just the last 5 minutes).

The squad’s captain Cafu has already expressed his intention to play. Sharing the record of World Cup appearances on the Brazilian squad with players Dunga and Taffarel - 18 so far each - he wants to break this record as fast as possible even though he’s got a yellow card (getting a second one would remove him from Brazil’s next match). Maybe he was just afraid he’d be jailed if he didn’t attend the game.

On the other hand, the idea of providing a “soft” game against Japan could make both Australia’s coach Hiddink and Croatia’s coach Zlatko Kranjcar worried. While Australia’s chances of getting to the next round depend mostly on themselves - winning against Croatia next thursday would already secure their spot - they also have a chance of qualifying if they get a draw, but they will depend on Brazil not losing to Japan by a large goal count. Croatia, on the other hand, needs a victory against Australia, with a goal sum bigger than Japan’s (if Japan beats Brazil). And since Japan’s coach is Brazilian (Zico), the suspicion is only bigger.

I can say I don’t expect an “easy” game to take place at all, much less for Brazil to concede because of Zico. While Parreira might test some of the subs or maybe a few different tactics, it’s of Brazil’s best interest to win the match - if they lose and Australia wins, depending on the goal difference, Brazil will take 2nd place in the group. This means that they get to play earlier - June 26, and not June 27 - and also means they’ll have to travel to Kaiserlautern for the match, instead of staying at Dortmund after their game against Japan. Having two more days to practice or rest can be crucial at this point, considering the proximity of the match days (4 days between matches at best).

Personally, I think Croatia has the better team so I predict them to qualify. Australia has shown they have the guts and the will to play football for 90 minutes, but quite frankly I think Croatia presented a much better team even if they tied to Japan.

Tags: Australia, Croatia, Japan, Parreira, Zico

Brazil World Cup RSS Feed

del.icio.us:Brazil to test itself against Japan

digg:Brazil to test itself against Japan

newsvine:Brazil to test itself against Japan

reddit:Brazil to test itself against Japan

fark:Brazil to test itself against Japan

stumbleupon:Brazil to test itself against Japan

Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 43 comments.

Read the rest of the comments

By Euler | June 21st, 2006 at 12:26 pm

I’m so pleased that Argentinean Marco is underestimating our team! I wonder if this is the general feeling in that country. The higher one is, the harder is the fall.

Probably there is a better way to say this in english…

By insane | June 21st, 2006 at 1:06 pm

Can someone tell me why Brazil do not pass and move like the Argentians do, I support Brazil but i feel they are not playing to their potential especially Ronaldinio and Ronaldo, why the lack of urgency in their play, by the way marco dont get to happy its early days.

Posted from United Kingdom

By Euler | June 21st, 2006 at 1:40 pm

Maybe because the world is too heavy to carry on one’s shoulder. The pressure on our players is too strong, but we won two matches already. Ronaldo is bringing the team down and the ‘record hunt’ is also harmful to our team. But I believe we can get good results… we have ‘bench potential’.

By LUXY | June 21st, 2006 at 2:07 pm

I’m Japan fan. I like Brazil too coz Brazil really can play well but I hope Japan can win so they can go through the next stage!! As for the match between Ausralia and Croatia, I hope Croatia win 1-0. Croatia is not a weak team, I think their possibility to win is just high… Australia is still new in world cup…

Posted from Malaysia

By wamdiego10 | June 21st, 2006 at 2:08 pm

ARGENTINA
is the Best player producer in the history of football, with only 35 Billions people, NO other country provides as much great footballers as ARGENTINA, Brasilians are far behind with their 180 billions people !

If we would make a standing “number of great players/people in the country”

1 ARGENTINA (35 M)
2 URUGUAY (3.5 M only !)
3 HOLLAND (15M)
4 CROATIA (4.5M)
5 PORTUGAL (9M)
6 ITALY (60M)
7 FRANCE (60M)
8 ENGLAND (60M)
9 GERMANY (80 M)
10 SPAIN (40M)
11 Brasil (180 M)

Posted from France

By Only_Me | June 21st, 2006 at 2:08 pm

My second team is Japan…and they really have failed to deliever this World Cup…But I also have to say, I am disapointed with Brazil. I used to enjoy watching Brazil play…but they have failed to impress.
All I can say is I hope the guys in Samurai Blue manage to defeat Brazil, personally I do not feel Brazil deserve to get any further. I saw a news clip of the Brazil team training, all they seemed to do was just kick a ball to each other. I don’t know why, but they seem to have no interest…Maybe I am wrong.
Anyway…all I can say is:
Ganabare Nippon!!!!!!

Posted from United Kingdom

By wamdiego10 | June 21st, 2006 at 2:15 pm

Someone said Argentina deserves only 1 world cup… Brazil too:
2002 was not a world cup, 1994 IN Penalty kick is not a victory, in 1958 and 1962 ? it’s been a so long time! We should not count those titles, at the time football was not the same.

Posted from France

By GM | June 21st, 2006 at 2:30 pm

I don’t expect a spectacle but I hope at least they will take it seriously and score a few goals

It will be too much if they play again at less than 50%

We saw what England and Sweden did yesterday, this match was obviously decided to be draw (guess who’s England’s coach), just watch how they let Larsson score the second goal

I don’t want to see the same theatre tomorrow

Posted from Bulgaria

By zé | June 21st, 2006 at 2:37 pm

wamdiego10, 35 billion people in argentina? You sure should be lacking some private space!

Glad to know you can make up rules to say certain World Cups didn’t count. Living in a world of fantasy should be pretty cool.

By Euler | June 21st, 2006 at 3:27 pm

Don’t mind him, Zé. He lives in frustration, unfortunately. The 1978 WC is a thorn in his soul so he tries to undermine the utter truth we all know.

By wamdiego10 | June 21st, 2006 at 4:54 pm

LOL !
I don’t care about the 78 WC I did not hear about this !
Anyway I have good time with you, I enjoy your reactions. Good !
Vamos Argentina, respect to brasil

Posted from France

By Arjuno | June 21st, 2006 at 5:30 pm

A lot of talk about the Argies, but mostly because they wiped the field with Serbia-Montenegro. They beat Ivory Coast by 1 - just as the Netherlands did. By that standard, today’s match with the Netherlands will be a real test for Argentina -not the same as playing for fun & flash with relative beginners…

So far, Brasil has nothing to be ashamed about. The Japan match will not be as easy as most think, but it might give viewers some of the flash they crave. Brasil will win in a match with little pressure…A win that should be kept in perspective considering the tough matches to come. Hopefully, we’ll see some younger players in the mix against Japan.

Go Brasiiiiil!

By al | June 21st, 2006 at 5:44 pm

wamdiego,
get your facts straight. brazil is the top producer of quality players in the world period. the reason is simple: soccer is a quasi-religion in brazil like in no other country on earth. their soccer program is absolutely amazing. there are already players who are likely to replace robinho who is only at the beggining of his career…..
as for cups well I disagree with you on that too. the only reason why argentina did not deserve to win in 1978 is because it is very much likely that there was fraud involved as it is impossible to believe that argentina would defeat peru 6-0 the way they did. no way. just like maradona recently came out to admit that in a previous cup they put some substances on water drank by brazilian players I would not be surprised if in the future somebody’s memoirs tell how argentina bought the game. remember that the only team that did not have any loss in 78 was brazil.
unfortunately for you it is likely that brazil will win many more cups in your lifetime while the rest of the world just watch in awe.

Posted from United States

By Euler | June 21st, 2006 at 6:58 pm

Ouch!

By Magic Square is working! - FIFA World Cup 2006 - Brazil World Cup Team Blog | June 21st, 2006 at 7:05 pm

[...] Select World Cup Team World Cup Blog Home Angola Argentina Australia Brazil Costa Rica Cote d’Ivoire Croatia Czech Republic Ecuador England France Germany Ghana Italy Iran Japan Korea Republic Mexico Netherlands Paraguay Poland Portugal Referees Saudi Arabia Serbia and Montenegro Spain Sweden Switzerland Togo Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Ukraine USA ———- World Cup Store World Cup Betting Mobile Phone World Cup World Cup Photos World Cup Videos World Cup Marketplace World Cup Tickets Travel to Germany World Cup Fantasy League Add this blog to: MyYahoo, Google, Bloglines, GERMANY 2006 BRAZIL World Cup History: Appearances: 18 | Wins: 62 | Losses: 14 | Draws: 11 | Best Finish: Champions ‘58, ‘62, ‘70, ‘94, ‘02 Home » Group F, World Cup 2006 « Brazil to test itself against Japan | Home | [...]

Posted from United States

By mcthingy2 | June 21st, 2006 at 8:07 pm

So how come everyone thinks that Brazil will suddenly reveal themselves as attacking dynamos when they have a historically very defensive coach in charge. This is the man whose go-to guy at USA ‘94 was Dunga!!

I predict Brazil will bore their way to another final……….

Posted from United States

By vic | June 21st, 2006 at 11:17 pm

to wamdiego or whatever that guys name is… dude get some facts straight and read some soccer history or only type of reactions you’ll get will be laughs from every real soccer fan.
to mcthingy2 - no metter who Brasil’s coach is, they will still play the nicest futball on earth, so my suggestion would be lets watch it and enjoy it.
P.S. did anybody watch Argentina vs Netherlands… no 6-0 there, ha?

Posted from United States

By mcthingy2 | June 22nd, 2006 at 12:02 am

Vic — I hope you prove me wrong. I used to love watching Brazil when they were decent. Their 1982 team was the best footballing team of my generation.

My disdain for this team is summed up by the travesty that is Roberto Carlos.

Take his free kicks. Actually anybody….PLEASE TAKE HIS FREEKICKS. I suggest Ronaldinho says something like this to him:

“Hey Roberto, you know you scored that great goal from a freekick in 1998 or some such?”

“yeah, I remember. What a cracker!”

“Well you haven’t done it since and you’re not taking any more you ball-hogging tub of lard?”

Posted from United States

By vic* | June 22nd, 2006 at 12:30 am

uhh. things are realy heating up. well we are almost in the second round. what’ll happen when we get to the final?

Posted from United States

By vic | June 22nd, 2006 at 12:44 am

ahh. things are really heating up. well, we’re almost in the second round. what’ll happen when we get to the final?

Posted from United States

By marco | June 22nd, 2006 at 7:57 am

why do u all say brazil play the best fottaball in the world?? what jsut coz nike decides to call you guys joca bonito?? What coz of a marketing campaign you now play the best football? i did nto see any brilian football in the past 6 manths for brazil! Brazilian players may have the best skill i.e rohnaldhino, but in my oppinion argentina play the most exciting and italy play the best football .. italy can play one touch fottabll for minutes and minutes without the opposition touching the ball (e.g against holland at the end of 2005)

Posted from Australia

By vic* | June 22nd, 2006 at 6:22 pm

marco even with picking argent. over brs. you didn’t make a strong point, but then you didn’t stop there and added italy too?

Posted from United States

By marc | June 22nd, 2006 at 7:48 pm

Even though I want Brazil to win it all the way…but watch out for Ghana guys…Brazil always perform very bad against fast skilled African teams. It will be very very very hard for them to win.

Posted from United States

By Martin | June 22nd, 2006 at 8:37 pm

Marc, I agree with you. Ghana will be a very tough team to get past. I think they have been the most impressive team in that group (even though Italy won the group).

This will provide the first real test for Brazil. Experience will probably be enough as should be an evenly matched game.

Posted from United States

By Alrod | June 23rd, 2006 at 4:42 am

Brazil beat Japan in style. That is a fact. However we must also look at their game. At some point they kept possesion for a good 20-30 passes. That tells u about jogo bonito. That is what it is. They are not the HArlem Globetrotters. Even the Lakers and the Bulls in their prime has showtime after they secured the score. Brazil will dissect and finish Ghana clinically. The Ghanaians are good but they cannot keep the ball like Brazil can. Ronaldinho will be able to play his game as they will not have Essien (suspended) PingPong is just fast, he cannot control the ball. Look for them to fouls a lot

Posted from United States

Comments are closed