RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Brazil coach Dunga said the qualifying competition was more difficult than the World Cup itself on Thursday as he named his squad for the first two games on the road to the 2010 finals in South Africa.
Dunga avoided any surprises in the 22-man squad for next month's matches against Colombia and Ecuador which kick off a marathon 18-match, two-year campaign.
Ronaldinho and Kaka were both included as expected and there was no place for forward Ronaldo, who has not been picked since last year's World Cup and is currently injured.
Brazil, the only team to have played at all 18 World Cups and winners of a record five, begin with a tricky match away to Colombia in Bogota on October 14.
They host Ecuador in Rio de Janeiro three days later in their first home match for two years and their first at the famous Maracana since a 5-0 win over Bolivia in 2000.
Although Brazil have never failed to reach the finals, they have had some tricky moments in the past, especially in the qualifiers for 2002 when they lost six of their 18 matches.
"The qualifiers are much more difficult than the finals," said Dunga. "Everyone wants to beat Brazil, we're the only team that speaks Portuguese, there's the atmosphere, the away games.
"Against Brazil, the other teams play with more determination and they change their characteristics. We have to be ready for any surprise, any difficulty."
"In the finals, we play on neutral grounds and the opponents are more open."
But the coach said he was confident his squad was good enough to keep Brazil's proud record intact.
"This is a group with a strength to revert unfavourable situations, they react positively in difficult moments and they know what they want," he said.
"It's a competitive squad with great quality."
Dunga shrugged off criticism of his forwards, who between them have produced only one of the nine goals Brazil have scored in their last three games.
"There's a big pressure on the strikers to score goals but the team's goal average is good. We play a style where all the players score.
"It doesn't matter who scores, when you pass the halfway line you become a forward."
Despite last week criticising the pitch at the Maracana, he welcomed the return to the famous stadium.
"It's a stage where all the players are happy to perform. There's nothing better than playing at the Maracana," he said.
Tuesday, 2 October 2007
Dunga says qualifiers more difficult than finals
AC Milan boss Ancelotti: Dida can make Celtic clash
Dida could make a surprise return between the posts for AC Milan in tomorrow night's Champions League clash at Celtic.
The Brazilian has missed Milan's last two games with a shoulder injury and coach Carlo Ancelotti said: "Dida worked quietly yesterday.
"And we'll try him again tonight at the stadium. If he is fit, then he will definitely play from the first minute."
Monday, 1 October 2007
Marta vows Brazil will bounce back
Shanghai - Fleet-footed Marta might have been voted player of the tournament but she is crestfallen after missing a vital penalty in the World Cup final against Germany.
The wonder striker, often compared to Ronaldinho and called "Pele in a skirt" by the great Brazilian himself, skipped and danced her way through defences before the rock-solid Germans blunted her edge.
But some of the gloss was taken off when she missed a second-half penalty to level Sunday's match at 1-1. Germany went on to win 2-0.
"We fought really hard to reach this final and just getting there was a historic step for us. Unfortunately we paid a heavy price for our mistakes," she admitted.
"We weren't clinical in front of goal, my luck deserted me from the penalty spot, we hit the woodwork two or three times and we didn't manage to dictate the tempo of the game.
"But that's football. Sometimes, however good you are you don't get what you want and today just wasn't our day."
Marta arrived in China with a host of accolades to her name. After being named Women's World Player in 2006, she followed up by helping the Canarinhas to gold at the recent Pan-American Games.
True to the swaggering style of her compatriots, the 21-year-old lived up to all expectations in China, using her pace and technique to full effect.
Her efforts were rewarded with the Golden Ball award for player of the tournament.
With Brazil going further than ever before at the World Cup, Marta appealed to the Brazilian football authorities to start putting their money where their mouths are and back the game more rigorously.
"We've proven that we're getting better every year despite not having a national league championship in Brazil," she said.
"The players do everything in their power to keep playing. Some have a club side, others don't and train by themselves.
"I think that if there were more incentives and support available then Brazil could go even further.
"Now more than ever the Brazilian authorities need to do something for us in return, so we can take on the big teams like Germany and the USA on an equal footing. Those teams have the full support of their countries."
She added that she hoped her performances would encourage young girls all over the world to take up the game to help lift it to another level.
"I'd say to them that if they have a dream, if they enjoy football and really want to play, then they shouldn't give up," she said.
"Women's football can be a struggle, but us Brazilians are here fighting to open up more opportunities and smooth the path for them." - Sapa-AFP
Eriksson tips Elano to be Man City great
Manchester City boss Sven Goran Eriksson believes Elano Blumer can emerge as a club great after his performance in their 3-1 defeat of Newcastle United.
The Brazil international delivered a footballing masterclass at Eastlands this afternoon, playing a major role in one Manchester City goal, then rocketing home another as the Blues maintained their 100% home record with a 3-1 win over Newcastle.
Eriksson plucked Elano from relative obscurity at Shakhtar Donetsk during the early weeks of his stint as City boss and already the £8million fee is looking like a major bargain.
Elano's silky skills and sumptuous passing game were too much for the Magpies and, as Eriksson observed, the 25-yard free-kick that flew into the top corner of returning keeper Shay Given's goal four minutes from time was total perfection.
"It is impossible to hit the free-kick any better than that," enthused Eriksson. "A centimetre either way and it hits the bar or the post.
"Elano is a great footballer. He can do a little bit of everything. I have worked with other top-class creative players in the past; people like Baggio and Mancini, but he is right up there with them."
Eriksson revealed he spoke to Brazil coach Dunga - who played under the Swede at Fiorentina - before making his move for the 26-year-old, who has not disappointed in City's electrifying start to the season.
"When he came here, he was not physically 100%," said Eriksson.
"He was a long way off because he hadn't done anything after the Copa America until he joined us.
"But now he is getting physically stronger and getting better and better.
"Every time he gets the ball you have the feeling something will happen."
Juan: Roma paid for inexperience
Juan admits Roma are still naive in big games.
Reflecting on Saturday night's defeat by Inter Milan, the Brazilian said: "It's difficult to play ten against eleven. But we had a chance after halftime.
"We fought to get back to 1-1 and a team with more experience would have played for the draw."
Rijkaard adds Ronaldinho to Barcelona squad
After a series of thrilling performances, Barcelona have been handed a further boost with Ronaldinho added to their squad for the Champions League clash with Stuttgart.
The Brazilian has missed the last three games for Barca with injury, but coach Frank Rijkaard has decided the time is right to bring him back into his squad.
Fit-again captain Carles Puyol said: "I do not understand the criticism against him, because Ronaldinho is genuine, is most important, is the flag of Barca.
"We all have good and bad days, but he has never hid and always fights for the team."
Real Madrid coach Schuster: Robinho must do more
Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster admits Robinho must improve some parts of his game if he is going to be a first team regular this season.
The Brazilian winger was influential as a second-half substitute in Real's defeat of Betis on Thursday night, but is likely to be on the bench again for tonight's match against Getafe.
"He can be an important player," said Schuster, "but he needs to find something.
"He can be successful. He needs to find some balance in his game. He'll get his chance through the season. With Arjen Robben, we have two wingers of similar style and that will be important this season."
Sunday, 30 September 2007
Brazil World Cup 2010 Qualifiers squad against Ecuador and Colombia
Ecuador (Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro)
Colômbia (Bogotá, Colombia)
Brasil:
Goalkeepers: Doni, Júlio César;
Defenders: Lúcio, Juan, Alex Silva, Alex;
Maicon, Daniel Alves, Gilberto, Kléber;
Midfielders: Mineiro, Josué, Gilberto Silva, Fernando, Elano, Júlio Baptista, Diego, Kaká, Ronaldinho Gaúcho;
Forwards: Vágner Love, Afonso, Robinho.