Brazil faces midfield dilemma against the Dutch
Source: Agencies |
July 2, 2010, Friday
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BRAZIL coach Dunga may have a hard time selecting his midfield for the quarterfinal against the Netherlands today because of injuries and a suspension.
Kaka and veteran Gilberto Silva are set to start but a suspension to Ramires and injuries to Elano, Felipe Melo and Julio Baptista leave the coach with few options for the other two midfield positions.
Elano is definitely out because of a bruised bone in his right ankle, while Melo and Baptista are doubtful to make the starting lineup.
Elano is the most serious problem for Brazil and could even miss the rest of the World Cup because of his injury. He had been key in the midfield and will be the biggest loss for Dunga today. The Galatasaray player scored in each of Brazil's first two matches before getting injured in a hard tackle against Ivory Coast.
Brazil was without its three regular staring midfielders against Portugal and struggled to break through its opponent's defensive setup in a 0-0 draw in Durban.
When Kaka was struggling to regain his form following a season hit by a series of injuries with Real Madrid, Dunga even tried to use Robinho in the playmaking position with Nilmar in attack.
Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk also faces a tactical dilemma. With three forwards, Chile boldly attacked the Samba Boys in its second round encounter but lost 0-3 after being torn to shreds by a side that looked close to flawless in all areas of the pitch.
Likewise, putting up the shutters in defense does not seem to work much either, with the likes of the brilliant Kaka, Robinho and Luis Fabiano relentlessly chipping away.
Netherlands has won all four of its matches and Arjen Robben's early goal on his return from injury in its 2-1 win over Slovakia has given the team a major lift. Against Brazil, Van Marwijk is expecting something entirely different.
"Perhaps we might be the underdogs for the first time in South Africa. We are confident but the Brazilians also convey this confidence. It's almost like they're invincible," he said. "But we're here for one reason, to get the big prize. We have to believe in it," he said.
The Dutch have endured criticism about dull play but winger Ryan Babel insisted they had faced opponents who had used negative tactics and Brazil's attacking flair would bring the best out of them.
Kaka and veteran Gilberto Silva are set to start but a suspension to Ramires and injuries to Elano, Felipe Melo and Julio Baptista leave the coach with few options for the other two midfield positions.
Elano is definitely out because of a bruised bone in his right ankle, while Melo and Baptista are doubtful to make the starting lineup.
Elano is the most serious problem for Brazil and could even miss the rest of the World Cup because of his injury. He had been key in the midfield and will be the biggest loss for Dunga today. The Galatasaray player scored in each of Brazil's first two matches before getting injured in a hard tackle against Ivory Coast.
Brazil was without its three regular staring midfielders against Portugal and struggled to break through its opponent's defensive setup in a 0-0 draw in Durban.
When Kaka was struggling to regain his form following a season hit by a series of injuries with Real Madrid, Dunga even tried to use Robinho in the playmaking position with Nilmar in attack.
Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk also faces a tactical dilemma. With three forwards, Chile boldly attacked the Samba Boys in its second round encounter but lost 0-3 after being torn to shreds by a side that looked close to flawless in all areas of the pitch.
Likewise, putting up the shutters in defense does not seem to work much either, with the likes of the brilliant Kaka, Robinho and Luis Fabiano relentlessly chipping away.
Netherlands has won all four of its matches and Arjen Robben's early goal on his return from injury in its 2-1 win over Slovakia has given the team a major lift. Against Brazil, Van Marwijk is expecting something entirely different.
"Perhaps we might be the underdogs for the first time in South Africa. We are confident but the Brazilians also convey this confidence. It's almost like they're invincible," he said. "But we're here for one reason, to get the big prize. We have to believe in it," he said.
The Dutch have endured criticism about dull play but winger Ryan Babel insisted they had faced opponents who had used negative tactics and Brazil's attacking flair would bring the best out of them.
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