Mighty Brazil Opens Against Little Known Nkoreans

Tuesday 15th June, 2010 15 MightyMighty BrazilBrazil opensopens againstagainst littlelittle knoknownwn NKNKoreansoreans BY TALES AZZONI match starts we will need to have the Coach Dunga began a new cycle JOHANNESBURG (AP) - A Brazil same respect as we would have to any with the Brazilian national team, pick- lineup bursting with global football other team." ing players known for their discipline stars will open its World Cup campaign In the 1966 tournament in England, and hard work and not for their star- against a North Korea squad they, and the North Korean squad defied expecta- dom or past successes. He also installed pretty much everyone else, knows very tions by beating Italy 1-0 to become the a style based on solid defense and quick little about. first team from Asia to reach the final counterattacking, which displeased mil- While five-time champion Brazil has eight. It then lost 5-3 to Portugal despite lions and millions of football-crazy fans won more titles than any country at holding an early 3-0 lead. in Brazil. football's biggest showcase, North A repeat may be difficult in South But his team earned significant Korea hasn't played in the tournament Africa after North Korea was drawn results on the field to quell many of the in more than 40 years and its interna- into a tough group which also critics and make Brazil a favorite for tional isolation is about its only advan- contains Ivory Coast and the title in South Africa. tage ahead of Tuesday's match at Ellis Portugal. The opener With few squad changes Park. might be the hardest since he took over, Dunga The unpredictability surrounding test for the Koreans, helped Brazil win the the secluded Asian nation is making as Brazil again Confederations Cup last Brazil wary of an upset like the one the arrives as one of year and finish first in team from the reclusive communist the title favorites South American World Cup state pulled in 1966, when it beat Italy despite a team qualifying. Brazil also beat en route to the quarterfinals in its only without stars such Italy, England, Portugal and previous World Cup appearance. as Ronaldinho, Argentina in friendlies ahead "I don't know anything about them," Ronaldo and of the World Cup. Brazil's Ramires said Sunday. "I only Adriano. "The team is ready," watched half of a warmup match they "We know Robinho said. "The team has been played. We are still waiting for the that all the play- ready for a long Brazilian coaches to give us more infor- ers on the team time. We are pre- mation about the them." are famous and pared to do well in That's information which may be that Brazil is the this World Cup." hard to find considering that the North strongest team in the Robinho, Kaka and Korea squad has been mostly secluded world," North Korea mid- Luis Fabiano highlight the from public view and the media at a fielder An Yong Hak team's attack, but another Kaka remote hotel in the northern outskirts said. "Doesn't seem strong point this time of Johannesburg since arriving in like they have any should be the defense he has practiced normally and is set to know how good Kaka is and we need South Africa. weaknesses." featuring goalkeeper start on Tuesday. him to be playing well." "We have to respect the Koreans," Brazil has a revamped Julio Cesar, Lucio, Juan and Maicon. "Kaka is a very important part of Luis Fabiano was the Brazil midfielder Elano said. "When we squad following its disappointing 1-0 Kaka arrived surrounded by doubts our team," said striker Luis Fabiano, Confederations Cup top scorer last year, look at history, Brazil may have many loss to France in the quarterfinals of over his physical condition following a who also recovered from a left thigh and could be one of the top strikers more titles than they do, but once the the 2006 World Cup in Germany. series of injuries with Real Madrid, but injury entering the World Cup. "We all again when the World Cup begins. Drogba Outsiders Slovakia, New Zealand doubtful meet in opener BY BARRY HATTON for Ivory RUSTENBURG, South Africa (AP) - Slovakia and New Zealand, two World Cup Coast outsiders, are keen to show they won't be easy prey in South Africa when they meet against in their Group F opener on Tuesday. Slovakia is in its first inter- Portugal national tournament as an independent nation since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia BY DENNIS PASSA in 1993. PORT ELIZABETH, South New Zealand, meanwhile, Africa (AP) - The biggest question is returning to the World Cup ahead of the Ivory Coast's opening stage for the first time since its World Cup match against Portugal debut appearance in 1982. revolves around the fitness of But New Zealand captain injured striker Didier Drogba. and central defender Ryan Drogba remains a doubtful Nelsen, who plays for starter after breaking his right arm Blackburn in the English in a friendly against Japan on June Premier League, insists his 4, and Ivory Coast coach Sven-Goran country's football has grown in stature since then. Five others Eriksson can't afford any risks on in the squad also play in Tuesday against a powerful Portugal England, adding experience squad led by Real Madrid winger they hope can lift their team to Cristiano Ronaldo. another level. The teams arrive Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, right, runs past team- "We are not wet behind the in Port Elizabeth mates Bruno Alves, Pepe and Miguel Veloso, from ears," Nelsen said. "The guys on Monday for left to right, during a training session at the Bekker are confident, we've got strikers their only Highschool in Magaliesburg, outside Johannesburg, who are very good and play in training ses- good leagues, the defenders as sion at South Africa, Sunday, June 13 2010. Portugal is well, and the same for the mid- Nelson preparing for the soccer World Cup and will play in fielders." Mandela group G. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) Slovakia, too, can point to Bay an impressive record in quali- Sharpeville ball skills and fitness, remained in Stadium. fying, when it upset group base on good spirits. Drogba favourites Czech Republic and Saturday, "Even if he's not playing with us didn't Poland, as evidence of its instead every time, he's the captain and he chances of competing well in train in receiving leads the team South Africa. the treatment. very, very "We're New Zealand goalkeeper Glen Moss makes a save during the team's well," Zokora going to play New Zealand All Whites team training session, which was Midfielder said. good football open to the public, at Sinaba Stadium, Daveyton, Didier Portugal and to fight Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, June 12. New Zealand Zokora said will feature a for a place in will play their first match in Group F against Slovakia, today. Drogba, who trio of the second (AP) trained with Brazilian-born round," the team for players. Slovakia who didn't play in World Cup mostly small Pacific island coach two days Defender qualifying but scored in nations, and then beat Bahrain Vladimir Slovakia's 1-1 draw against - the fifth-place team in Asian late last Pepe, midfield- Weiss said Cameroon last month, may fea- qualifying - to reach South week but er Deco and after a recent ture at the Royal Bafokeng Africa. wore a striker Liedson 3-0 win over Stadium. The challenge now is to protective all made their Costa Rica in Liverpool center back improve on its showing 28 cast as he names in the a warm-up Martin Skrtel has returned to years ago when it lost all three worked Portuguese game. normal training after breaking group games. on his league. When Even so, his foot in February, and cap- But defender Nelsen reck- the Brazilian the Slovaks tain Marek Hamsik of Napoli ons the team's 1-0 win over national team and Kiwis is back from a muscle injury. world No. 15 Serbia in a friend- failed to call can't match Manchester City midfielder ly at Austria last month showed them up, they became naturalized the pedigree of their Group F Vladimir Weiss, the son of it can now stand up to the big- Portuguese. adversaries. They are up coach Vladimir sr, said the per- ger countries. They will have to face their orig- against defending World Cup formance against Costa Rica "I think this team is a wee inal home country when Portugal champion Italy and Paraguay, had encouraged Slovakia. bit different from most New meets Brazil in Group G, which also which is playing at its eighth "We will obviously try to Zealand teams," he said. "We World Cup. Only two countries features North Korea. get all three points" against the have got a lot of experience advance to the next round. All Whites, he said. "When we now among the squad and "I don't know what it'll be like," Slovakia is without 33-year- play we will build on our work things don't daunt you as much Deco said recently of that June 25 old midfielder Miroslav against Costa Rica." as they once did." match against Brazil in Durban. Karhan, its most experienced New Zealand, ranked 78th Shane Smeltz, who scored "It'll be different playing against player, who was ruled out with in the world and viewed as the the only goal in the friendly Brazil, but I play for Portugal with an Achilles' tendon injury. weakest team in the group, against Serbia and was the top all my heart and soul." Strikers Filip Holosko and profited from Australia's switch scorer last season in the Portugal is making its fifth Robert Vittek are also regain- to the Asian Confederation fol- Australian domestic A-League, appearance at the World Cup and its ing match fitness after injuries. lowing the 2006 World Cup. It and Middlesborough striker Didier Drogba best performances were the semifi- That means 23-year-old Sparta easily won its regional qualify- Chris Killen pose a threat for nals in 1996 and 2006. Prague midfielder Juraj Kucka, ing tournament, featuring the Slovakia defence.