Venezuela and Colombia – Maybe the Dopey Gaucho’s final dance (Full Venezuela Brazil match Report out on Tuesday)

The up coming qualifiers could yet again be a chance to rejoice at the maybe end of a tyranny Dunga has given us, maybe this time he may get the unprecedented boot. Or yet again, we may have to wait for another bunch of unimaginative matches and results to see if we can all start Samba dancing again. Alas Dunga has picked his squad albeit with a few changes, some which I have been please and some others we could’ve expected. (ye the usual suspects of poor play)

The Original squad selected:

Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), Doni (AS Roma).

Defenders: Maicon (Inter Milan), Daniel Alves (FC Barcelona), Kleber (Santos), Lucio (Bayern Munich), Alex (Chelsea), Juan (AS Roma), Thiago Silva (Fluminense), Juan Maldonado (Flamengo).

Midfielders: Elano (Manchester City), Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos), Josue (Wolfsburg), Anderson (Manchester United), Lucas (Liverpool), Julio Baptista (AS Roma), Mancini (Inter Milan), Kaka (AC Milan).

Forwards: Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Alexandre Pato (AC Milan), Robinho (Manchester City), Jo (Manchester City).

The current squad selected due to unforeseen injuries

Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Inter-Milan/ITA), Doni (Roma/ITA)

Defenders: Maicon (Inter-Milan/ITA), Daniel Alves (Barcelona/ESP), Lucio (Bayern Munich/GER), Juan (Roma/ITA), Thiago Silva (Fluminense/BRA), Silva (Hamburg/GER), Kleber (Santos/BRA), Juan (Flamengo/BRA)

Midfielders: Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos/GRE), Josue (Wolfsburg/GER), Lucas (Liverpool/ENG), Anderson (Manchester United/ENG), Elano (Manchester City/ENG), Kaka (AC Milan/ITA), Mancini (Inter-Milan/ITA), Alex (Porto Alegre/BRA)

Strikers: Adriano (Inter-Milan/ITA), Jo (Manchester City/ENG), Pato (AC Milan/ITA), Robinho (Manchester City/ENG)

Finally it seems people realise or maybe Dunga has been told there’s been a highly underrated in-form player who plays his trade for inter Milan. (and before for Roma) Finally Mancini has been rewarded for his constant fine work and earned a placement. What more is the need for a player like Mancini to be picked is it gives Brazil an alternate player to play in the role formerly held by Ronaldinho. This could be the kick start Ronaldinho needs to know someone should be kicking his heels for a place in the Selecao, hopefully now Ronaldinho knows that rehab isn’t going back home and partying it out in Rio and playing grotesquely for Brazil. Mancini’s inclusion also is fundamental for another reason; he is in all fairness to football a purely Brazilian winger, who plays from wide attacking positions like the classic days of using the 4-2-4. This is something I have said in previous posts which has affected the development of the Brazilian national team for many years, the inability to play with any pure width. The over reliance of the fullbacks to constantly provide width is something opposing teams have been able to pip off when playing against Brazil. Before it used to be a surprise to be attacked by rampaging fullback’s, i.e. Cafu, Roberto Carlos, or for those of you who know the generation who started this style with Junior and Orlando in 1982. By picking players such as Mancini now gives Brazil the option of playing with some pure width in the attacking midfield area. As I stated in the Olympic matches our key fundamental problem was having two attacking midfielders running into the same channels and basically blocking of one another as everything was so tight and packed in midfield. I realise in modern day football Brazil can’t just whip out the 4-2-4 and be successful football now demands more work, interchanging positions to beat tight defences and stopping counter attacks. The best way to play football is the Brazilian way for Brazil and that be it with skill and trickery, with the current idiot at the helm of the Selecao I doubt this will occur but in hindsight I am going to stress the ways we should be playing to combat what is happening now and what did occur in WC06. To play a better faster game the way the attacking midfielders set-up is key to getting that ball to the strikers and for the full-backs to get into the game, so no to overly be relied upon. Play attackers from wider areas, for example how Messi and Ronaldinho played for Barcelona when they were successful. Roanldinho played out of the left and Messi out of the right and moved everywhere able to get one-on one with fullbacks and defensive players. Playing in this style with say Kaka and Ronaldinho one player could play out of the right and one out of the left, cutting into the pitch and running straight at the opposition. The fullbacks then can come up as overlaps giving rise to the surprise element instead having every play stuck in the middle of the pitch causing the ball to have to be perfectly passed close to each other with one mistake causing Brazil’s attacks to be break down (constantly happening with Dunga’s structure).

Brazil’s main problem is the uncreative dull and destructive centre-midfield comprising of destroyers and part time centre backs, instead of creating passes and playmaking for the team to move forward they cut up attacks and sit deep to allow the fullbacks to be wingers. To have a skilful concrete central midfield, helps dictate the tempo of the match, and with the use of a midfield general (Didi, Gerson) the fluidity of football can be fully utilized. Dunga was this player albeit in a new mould of tough tackling and strict positioning, he still was master of dictating the midfield movement. I don’t want to rant on again like I have in deeply about our centre midfield I have in previous posts, but I think this really is the area which is hurting Brazilian football. At least this position seems to be going through a revelation with talents such as Hernanes and Felipe Melo to speak of, so maybe if another coach comes in apart from the dopey Dunga Brazilian football can be brought back to its true essence.
With Luis Fabiano picking up a little injury, Adriano is able to re take his place in the Selecao. Adriano who has been showing some of the form which brought him world acclaim, (fantastic prospect) he has been gaining confidence with Inter and in my opinion was coming back to contention for a Brazil place in future matches. Maybe these matches are a bit too quick for him to get back to destroying the world with his left foot but it will be intriguing to watch him back for Brazil. Another very exciting prospect is Alex of International being picked; a player whom Bruno from the Brazil offside says has been the best player in the Brazilian league. He is a gifted left footed attacking midfield player and I am eager to see him suit up as well as Mancini. I doubt Dunga really will give these players much of a run out seeing as they may be a bit skilful for his liking but hopefully they can get a fair run.

On to the matches themselves, Brazil on Sunday take on Venezuela in San Cristobal. Already this year Venezuela have Devastated the Brazilians in the USA with a 2-0 defeat. The Brazilians under Dunga have sucked, if you read the blog you know were fighting the true identity of Brazilian football at this moment. Brazil haven’t travelled well only picking up a handful of points away from home with draws in Peru and Colombia, a loss to Paraguay and that weird 3-0 drubbing of Chile. Venzuela seem to be a rejuvenated side and are enjoying the game of football ever since the Copa America, but still they are languishing on the bottom of the round robin. Brazil could be looking for a revenge attack, in my opinion Brazil’s worst enemy are themselves in a majority of Qualifiers with the smaller side, if Kaka after 11 months away from the national team feels inclined to playing well and Robinho is inspired Brazil may come away with the big three, if not then a dull draw is on the cards. Dungas tactics are inept in changing a game, but rather depending on Individual plays.

Brazil face Colombia at home and I have not got clue what the outcome of this match will be, after the Bolivia crap we witnessed, one can only see maybe this match will be Dunga’s last stand to prove something to the CBF if the result in Venezuela is another big upset.

Hopefully these matches are the end of the Dunga era and life for the Selecao can go back to normal, but we say that every game. Venezuela match report out on Tuesday for the rest of guys try and enjoy this match how bad and dull it may be, Peace.