Dunga’s Brazil shows backbone as well as talent as it chases another World Cup triumph

Brazil peaking just chasing sixth World Cup title

JOHANNESBURG — The first World Cup to be staged in Africa looks likely to have a familiar winner.

When the 31 qualifiers join host South Africa a year from now, don’t look much further than five-time winner Brazil to take home the trophy yet again.

Despite being jeered by its fans less than nine months ago amid calls for the unpopular coach Dunga to quit, Brazil is timing it just right. Sunday’s 3-2 Confederations Cup final triumph over a United States team which led by two goals showed just why this Brazil team has the tenacity as well as the skill to go on and win a sixth World Cup title here in Johannesburg a year from now.

The most successful country in World Cup history now has new talents — midfield stability when things aren’t going to plan and the ability and belief to come back from two goals down to win a final.

Sunday’s performance in scoring three second half goals — four if you include one which crossed the line but wasn’t allowed — showed the new backbone that exists these days in once brittle Brazil.

It wasn’t flamboyant trickery that earned them their record third Confederations Cup title. It was genuine hard work and the character not to give up even when Kaka’s far post header was disallowed even though it appeared to cross Tim Howard’s line.

On course, to maintain their record as the only team to play at all 19 World Cups, the Brazilians have also won that title five times in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002, playing a style of soccer most other nations could only dream about.

In the Pele era between the late 50s and early 70s, they set out to entertain and win at the same time, bamboozling opponents with their dribbling skills, one-touch passing, long range, swerving shots and an ideology that attack is the best form of defense.

Brazil remains the only nation to win the World Cup outside of its own continent — Uruguay and Argentina both winning in South America and Italy, Germany, England and France capturing their titles in Europe.

Brazil won it in Sweden in 1958, Korea/Japan in 2002 and, on this form, looks likely to eclipse European champion Spain — which finished third here — and take the title in Africa, too, when the teams return here next year.

Under Dunga, who was captain when the team won in the United States in 1994, Brazil still has the players to entertain, such as Robinho, Kaka and, when he wins his place back, Ronaldinho.

But Dunga, has also devised a more pragmatic style of play. This Brazil has world-class defenders as well as forwards with the likes of Inter Milan’s Maicon, Barcelona’s Daniel Alves, Bayern Munich’s Lucio, Juan of AS Roma, Luisao of Benfica and Chelsea’s Alex to choose from.

The steady and dependable Gilberto Silva also operates in a deep midfield role to protect his defenders and Manchester United’s Anderson is another valuable player behind the forwards.

But Dunga has had to ride waves of criticism for his selections and poor results in qualifying.

Only last October, a 0-0 draw with Colombia was Brazil’s third winless result at home and the coach and players were booed off the field at Maracana stadium and then criticized in the media. There were calls for Dunga to quit.

But he kept his cool and accused the media and fans of creating a crisis that simply wasn’t there.

On this performance he was right.

Coming into this tournament, Brazil had moved to the top of South American qualifying for the World Cup after a 4-0 victory at Uruguay and a 2-1 triumph over long-time leader Paraguay. Then it won all five games at this tournament, starting with a shaky 4-3 victory over African champion Egypt, outplaying the U.S. and Italy 3-0 each to top its group.

Against host South Africa, with the home fans creating a cacophony of noise in support of their team, Brazil held its nerve to win 1-0 thanks to an 88th minute free kick by Daniel Alves.

And, after first half goals by Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan had threatened an upset at Ellis Park on Sunday, Dunga’s team hit back with two strikes by Luis Fabiano and one by captain Lucio to capture yet another title.

All these results and performances were Dunga’s answer to the critics and now, with just under a year to go to the 2010 World Cup, it looks like Brazil is beginning to get it all together at the right time.