Brazil confidence grows
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Johannesburg - A three year plan is coming together for Brazil head coach Dunga, as the 2010 World Cup heads into the final straight this weekend with the quarterfinals.
GALLERY: All the action from Brazil vs ChileBrazil underlined their pedigree as favourites with the way they brushed aside fellow South American side Chile 3-0 in the Round of 16 clash played in front of a capacity crowd at Ellis Park on Monday night.
Brazil will now face either Spain or Portugal in the quarterfinals at Ellis Park on Saturday.
But the Brazil head coach and former captain would not be drawn on whether Ghana, the only surviving African side left in the tournament, could go all the way to the final. Ghana play Uruguay in their quarterfinal clash at Soccer City on Friday at 8.30pm.
Said Dunga: "They (Ghana) play a fast type of game. It is difficult to say if they will go further or if it will be the more mature teams that will progress."
When asked if the weight of being favourites weighed heavy on him and the players, Dunga said in the World Cup teams have to improve and go forward.
"There is a lot of expectation on us. Some people doubted we could win the World Cup when we started out three years ago, but that is changing. The confidence is growing with each game."
Dunga said three years of thorough preparation was paying off: "A lot of preparation and hard work went into this talented group of players with the ultimate goal of winning the Word Cup.
"This group have bonded in the three years they have been together. They have been given freedom to express themselves and now we are seeing the benefit of all the hard work.
"We need to be mentally and physically fit and be able to think on our feet, which we did against Chile."
Dunga also said the key was the fact so many players in the side were versatile and could play in more than one position.
"This gives me other options. Players are willing to play in whatever position I need them and it adds to our strength."
But Dunga, who as captain of his country beat Holland in the 1994 and 1998 World Cups, said the Dutch pose a massive test for Brazil. He stopped short of saying he could make it a hat-trick of personal wins over Holland.
"Holland are a good side and will be difficult to play against. They are top class technically and that is something we are going to have to deal with."
Dunga also hit out at referees for not protecting his star midfielder Kaka, who was given a third yellow card in two matches when English referee Howard Webb booked the Real Madrid ace in the first half against Chile.
Kaka was unlucky to be sent off in the 3-1 win over Ivory Coast at Soccer City in the group phase after picking up two yellow cards and missed last week 0-0 draw in the final group match against Portugal in Durban.
"It worries me that players who are technically good (like Kaka) get punished by referees and those who commit the fouls get away with no punishment.
"I will be talking to Kaka about the bookings and try and make sure we keep him out of the referees radar."
Dunga said he would shorten the teams training sessions this week. "We use training sessions to recover and recouperate from games.
"There is no need to prolong training sessions at this stage although this group loves to train."
Dunga also praised Chile's spirited performance, but it was Chile's eighth successive defeat at the hands of Brazil.
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