Brazil blames spoilsport tactics
Source: Agencies |
June 17, 2010, Thursday
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BRAZIL is blaming North Korean "spoilsport" tactics for its dismal opening World Cup performance but has promised to do better next time - if future opponents are more obliging.
Coach Dunga and his players said that North Korea's massed defense simply made life too difficult for the five-time world champion on Tuesday, which is more comfortable facing teams who open up and attack.
"It was a very complicated match because they closed down the spaces," said striker Luis Fabiano after Brazil struggled to a 2-1 win in Johannesburg over the lowest-ranked side at the World Cup at 105.
Felipe Melo said that North Korea played with "two lines of five" and Michel Bastos agreed that it was just not cricket. "It's not easy to play against a team which just plays in defense. It makes things really difficult for us," he said.
Dunga, who has turned Brazil into a team which depends on counter-attacks and set pieces for goals, agreed with his players. "When you meet a team which plays attacking football, it allows you to create space," he said.
North Korea's coach praised his team for playing "bravely," yet forward Jong Tae Se was crushed for failing to score.
After a scoreless first half, Brazil broke through a solid defense in the second, with Maicon and Elano scoring. Ji Yun Nam replied for North Korea in the 89th minute.
"We may not have won the match but our players showed very strong form, and they fought bravely," coach Kim Jong Hun said after the game. "I'm happy that we scored one goal against Brazil, and I'm very proud of my players."
North Korea's state media have provided unprecedented coverage of the team's return to the World Cup for the first time in 44 years.
Jong, North Korea's leading scorer, told the Japan-based Choson Sinbo newspaper he was pleased with how the team played but was disappointed to lose.
"We were able to play our brand of soccer during the first half, but after allowing a goal in the second half, we had a difficult time," he said in an interview yesterday.
"It's disappointing that we didn't win, and I ache for not having scored a goal," said Jong, who had said earlier that he was aiming to score a goal a game at the World Cup.
Coach Dunga and his players said that North Korea's massed defense simply made life too difficult for the five-time world champion on Tuesday, which is more comfortable facing teams who open up and attack.
"It was a very complicated match because they closed down the spaces," said striker Luis Fabiano after Brazil struggled to a 2-1 win in Johannesburg over the lowest-ranked side at the World Cup at 105.
Felipe Melo said that North Korea played with "two lines of five" and Michel Bastos agreed that it was just not cricket. "It's not easy to play against a team which just plays in defense. It makes things really difficult for us," he said.
Dunga, who has turned Brazil into a team which depends on counter-attacks and set pieces for goals, agreed with his players. "When you meet a team which plays attacking football, it allows you to create space," he said.
North Korea's coach praised his team for playing "bravely," yet forward Jong Tae Se was crushed for failing to score.
After a scoreless first half, Brazil broke through a solid defense in the second, with Maicon and Elano scoring. Ji Yun Nam replied for North Korea in the 89th minute.
"We may not have won the match but our players showed very strong form, and they fought bravely," coach Kim Jong Hun said after the game. "I'm happy that we scored one goal against Brazil, and I'm very proud of my players."
North Korea's state media have provided unprecedented coverage of the team's return to the World Cup for the first time in 44 years.
Jong, North Korea's leading scorer, told the Japan-based Choson Sinbo newspaper he was pleased with how the team played but was disappointed to lose.
"We were able to play our brand of soccer during the first half, but after allowing a goal in the second half, we had a difficult time," he said in an interview yesterday.
"It's disappointing that we didn't win, and I ache for not having scored a goal," said Jong, who had said earlier that he was aiming to score a goal a game at the World Cup.
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