A World Cup win in South Africa would put the icing on the cake for coach Dunga under whose stewardship Brazil have been looking a strong bet for a sixth title.

Talk about a paradox: Brazil, all suave and flair, being coached by a spiky-haired, no-nonsense enforcer who lacked the skills of many of his international team-mates.
No matter. Whatever the diminutive Dunga, nicknamed "Dopey," is doing is working fine.

His experience
 As a player Dunga already has a winner's medal from 1994 when he lifted the trophy as skipper.

But now he is gradually homing in on the remaining ambition he harbours in the game - to win the biggest prize in sports as coach and emulate Franz Beckenbauer, who performed the feat in both roles for Germany.

Taking over from the experienced Carlos Alberto Parreira shortly after Brazil's 2006 flop, Dunga, in his first top-level managerial job, moulded together a team without egos.

Or at least that's what it sounded like after Brazil's title in June's Confederations Cup in South Africa, capped by a 3-2 comeback win over an inspired and seemingly fate-infused U.S. team.

Under Dunga, Brazil have been showing their form across the year, ticking off a slew of the goals he set for them.

"We can't complain. We qualified in double quick time for the World Cup, we won the Confederations Cup and we beat Argentina away (in the qualifiers)," Dunga said.

Brazil cruised through the World Cup 2010 qualifying programme to book their passage with three games to spare and topped the group ahead of Chile, Paraguay and an Argentina who just limped over the line.

The 2009 record reads 14 wins, two draws and one defeat - to Bolivia when finals tickets were already assured - and Dunga says the run has bolstered his ambitions of landing further success.

"This is the fruit of three-and-a-half year's work and the dedication of the players. The group is very happy," said Dunga.

Some contradictions do show up when the side's recent record is that the likes of Uruguay and Argentina were sent packing whereas there were some hiccups in the form of goal-less draws against minnows Bolivia and Venezuela.

Four years ago the Brazilians went out in the quarters after losing to France, which spelt the end for Carlos Parreira, now in charge of hosts, South Africa.

The entrants
The old guards, such as Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos, have since left the international stage but fresh talent has arrived in spades, including Seville, striker Luis Fabiano and the likes of the experienced but still young Kaka, Felipe Melo as well as Robinho.

Even if Dunga does emulate "Kaiser" Beckenbauer, the Germany legend is hoping that the Brazilian will do so in more style than he fears.

Beckenbauer has yet to be converted and clearly remains a fan of the Brazil that triumphed in his own era.

"This is not the Brazil I know. It's a team that plays very tight with only one up front. I don't like that," said Beckenbauer.
blog comments powered by Disqus