North Korea a mystery on pitch as well as off

Brazilians can't afford to take unknowns for granted

By: Tales Azzoni Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Tuesday, Jun. 15, 2010

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- Brazil's players and new defence-minded style will be unveiled in the World Cup against a North Korea squad they, and pretty much everyone else, knows very little about.

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JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- Brazil's players and new defence-minded style will be unveiled in the World Cup against a North Korea squad they, and pretty much everyone else, knows very little about.

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JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Brazil’s players and new defence-minded style will be unveiled in the World Cup against a North Korea squad they, and pretty much everyone else, knows very little about.

While five-time champion Brazil has won more titles than any country at football’s biggest showcase, North Korea hasn’t played in the tournament in more than 40 years and its international isolation is about its only advantage before today’s match at Ellis Park.

Brazil is not taking the Koreans lightly, though.

ANDRE PENNER / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Brazilian midfielder Kaka says if the team can just play its game, then all the pre-World Cup jitters can be set aside. — ANDRE PENNER / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES Brazilian midfielder Kaka says if the team can just play its game, then all the pre-World Cup jitters can be set aside.

"The 32 teams that qualified for the World Cup can play," coach Dunga said. "Regardless of tradition, they have to be respected.

"We can’t enter the match thinking we are going to win it. We have to be focused and play the best we can."

With the former defensive midfielder in command, Brazil has put aside the "Beautiful Game" that used to enchant fans around the world and will field a style similar to the one that helped Brazil win the 1994 World Cup with Dunga as its captain.

The defence is one of Brazil’s high points now, with goalkeeper Julio Cesar and central defenders Lucio and Maicon among the world’s best. The attacking will be left for playmaker Kaka and forwards Luis Fabiano and Robinho.

"There is always the anxiety of the first match, but we have to play like Brazil usually plays and we should be all right," said Kaka, who arrived surrounded by doubts over his physical condition but is set to start today.

Dunga revamped the squad following its disappointing 1-0 loss to France in the quarter-finals of the 2006 World Cup in Germany, picking players known for their discipline and hard work and not for their stardom or past successes.

His defensive style displeased millions of football-crazy fans in Brazil, but his team earned significant results on the field to quell many of the critics and make Brazil a favourite to win the tournament in South Africa.

With few squad changes since he took over, Dunga helped Brazil win the Confederations Cup last year and finish first in South American World Cup qualifying. Brazil also beat Italy, England, Portugal and Argentina in friendlies before the World Cup.

"It’s our style and if we play the way we have been playing we can come out victorious," left back Michel Bastos said.

But the unpredictability surrounding the secluded Asian nation is making Brazil wary of an upset like the one the team from the reclusive communist state pulled off in 1966, when it beat Italy en route to the quarter-finals in its only previous World Cup appearance.

— The Associated Press