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Brazil were the favourites of the press and the analysts together with Spain. Just like the champion, Brazil team was one of those that got to South Africa with everything proven and well oiled. They had evinced their condition the previous years in the preliminaries, winning both competitions in a fantastic way. Very solid at the back with the goalkeeper Julio Cesar and two central players of the best in the world, Juan and Lucio, the permanent moving upwards of Maicon by the right band, a midfield of Elano with technique and kicking, and the offensive trio with KAKA, Robinho and Luis Fabiano, lethal in counterattack. Coach and players had no doubts.
After a discrete start against South Korea, the quality and authority appeared in front of the Ivory Coast, though it was not too powerful rival. Afterwards, with the qualification secured, they played a tight match against Portugal, 0 - 0, in which they basically tried not to lose their first place in the group, something important in the round of sixteen.
That is how they evaded Spain and had to play against Chile, which they surpassed with latitude and easily, by 3 - 0. Once again the attacking trident was lethal. The second goal by Luis Fabiano, was a model of counterattack prepared by Kaka and Robinho, in whom speed, precision, and beauty were mixed.
That devastating formula learned by heart, seemed indestructible, especially because of the certainty that the team evinced from midfield backwards. But there appeared a difficult and uncomfortable rival the Netherlands and unlucky match. The hexagonal championship dream was shattered. Brazil were winning and they played a good first half. They seemed about to increase their advantage. Nevertheless, a centre by Schneider on the area complicated matters for Julio Cesar, grazed Felipe Melo and got into the goal.
The only defeat left Brazil out form the semifinals, the team minimum objective which will now have their retaliation as locals in four years' time.
Alvaro Silva
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