World Cup Group G preview: Brazil v Ivory Coast
How many did you reckon then? Five? Six? Seven?
Everyone appeared to have an opinion about how many goals that Brazil were going to beat North Korea by, but in the end it was only one – although quite what they thought the score was in Kim Jong-Il controlled North Korea is a different matter.
Maicon and Elano scored those Brazilian goals, but not everyone was entirely convinced with the Brazilian performance, not least the players themselves.
“I have not changed my opinion,” says Nilmar, “Spain are still the favourites.”
Perhaps Brazil like it that way, but the fact remains that they will qualify should they beat the Ivory Coast in Johannesburg on Sunday night, in what is one of the most eagerly awaited matches of the group stages.
Watching the Ivory Coast against Portugal on Tuesday, maybe that anticipation will be in vain.
Sven-Gorän Eriksson’s side were cautious in their approach in that game, but they may be about to get a lot more attacking.
“Do not be surprised if Didier Drogba starts against Brazil,” says Eriksson.
“He made a valuable contribution when he was on the pitch against Portugal, he is an important player in the team and his health has improved markedly.”
His health, i.e. his broken arm, has indeed improved markedly, and there is no doubt that the Ivorians will be greatly enhanced should their talismanic forward to available from the start on Sunday night. It will give the Brazilian defence something to worry about too. They looked shaky at times against the plucky, but limited North Koreans, and Eriksson noticed.
“It is going to be a difficult game, but looking at what we did against Portugal, we are capable of creating a surprise against Brazil.”
Whether or not they will remains to be seen. The Brazilians will surely be considered heavy favourites for the contest, and rightly so.
The debate about whether or not Maicon meant to score his side’s opening goal was largely ended when many said, “he’s Brazilian, of course he meant it.”
“I'm a team player, I like to try and gee up my team-mates, and it's something that comes naturally,” he says.
“That's something I've done since I was a child, but I also grow with every new experience. You learn from every game you play and every goal you score. You're always discovering new things which you then try and put into practice.”
That he did, and his goal from the most acute of angles set Brazil on the way towards a valuable win, and one that raises confidence ahead of this one.
They should win, Drogba or not, but it won’t be so much of a surprise if it is only by a margin of one this time.
MJ
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