The scene is set for what promises to be a hot clash as Colombia want to resurge as a South American footballing powerhouse but have their first hurdle set high in the shape of Dunga’s new model Brazil.
The Bogotá match sees the five-time World Cup winning nation arrive up north as firm favourites thanks to the recent Copa América conquest at the expense of hot favourites Argentina and now face a Colombia that’s still to take shape.
The hosts had a Copa that was the polar opposite of the conquering Canarinhas (canaries) as the Cafeteras (coffee makers) commanded by Jorge Luis Pinto come from a weak Copa América that has left the national scene in a state of flux.
Brazil seem to be solidifying after the meltdown at Germany 2006, Dunga having imprinted his stern personality on the squad and a style of play that hasn’t won over accolades, yet has won silverware and cemented a renewed first eleven.
Team News
COLOMBIA
Colombia is still a long way from its heyday and are nowadays seen as underdogs to such an extent that Coach Pinto has publicly announced that he would adore a draw on the home debut: anything to avoid a defeat on the first matchday.
To make matters worse Pinto has shaken things up since the Copa América let-down and has rejuvenated the squad at the expense of experience and many doubt that the national side has attained anything near the right amount of cohesion.
Another blow was a retirement from the selección as Iván Ramiro Córdoba hung up his international spurs and a third is the injury suffered by Luis Amaranto Perea, the solid Atlético de Madrid centre-back leaving a gaping hole at the back.
Pinto is set to lock down the rearguard with Aquivaldo Mosquera (Sevilla) but is still deciding between Cristian Zapata (Udinese) and Wálter Moreno (Cúcuta Deportivo) to partner the Sevillista in a defence that’s bound to be put under pressure.
In the last few training sessions observers noted that Pinto was alternating between fielding the two defenders in turns besides the unquestioned Mosquera, and one of the candidates, Moreno was raring to go if given the chance.
“It’s always a great motivator to play against the best sides in the world. The idea is to take advantage of an opportunity to help our country and to put Brazil under constant pressure and not leave any gaps at the back”, explained the Cúcuta stopper.
Better news can be found up front as River Plate marksman Radamel Falcao García has seen his great recent club-level work be rewarded and can see this game as an excellent chance to leave his mark – and a high-profile calling card before the winter transfer window opens.
BRAZIL
The Copa América has informed the composition of the Seleção Brasileira as Dunga’s first eleven becomes clearer – with the exception of a striker. The ‘Dunga Revolution’ after Parreira’s men failed to make the grade in Germany has been quite meek.
A total of nine ‘survivors’ from the ill-fated World Cup 2006 are still in Dunga’s squad with seven of them still considered as first team players, so the revolution has been one of attitude more than one of a clean sweep of the board.
Lúcio, Juan, Kaká and Ronaldinho are still in the first eleven that crashed so conspicuously in Germany while the benched Robinho, Gilberto Silva, Mineiro, Gilberto and Júlio César are now habitual names for a first team position.
Dunga’s initial manifest talked of using more Brazilian players, but the fact is that – a few exceptions aside – Dunga has reduced his use of Brazil-based players systematically to the point where just two Brazil-based men were called up this time.
Only São Paulo centre-back Alex Silva (‘little’ brother of SL Benfica idol Luisão) and left-back-cum left-sided midfielder Kléber (Santos) are included in the Brazil call-ups: hardly a sign that there’s been a reassessment of the Eurocentric view.
The biggest news lately is that Dunga appears to be ready to put Robinho – who looks to have shaken off the ankle problems he arrived with – in a front line next to Vágner Love and take Elano out of the equation.
Previously there had been speculation of Brazil playing without a traditional ‘number 9’ (either Vágner Love or Afonso Alves) and pushing either Ronaldinho or Kaká up into the front line as they’ve both got a nose for goal and the system was tried successfully for some of the recent friendly matches.
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