Dunga’s Brazil,brutal and sometimes beautiful

Let others complain about a lack of beauty. Dunga,Brazils coach,is concerned only about winning.

Let others complain about a lack of beauty. Dunga,Brazils coach,is concerned only about winning. The World Cup is,after all,a soccer tournament. The goal is to put another trophy in the case,not to hang a picture on the wall. With their usual pragmatic reliance on set pieces and rampaging counterattacks,Brazil routed Chile,3-0,on Monday night at Ellis Park. Seeking a sixth World Cup title,they advanced to the quarterfinals,where they will face the Netherlands on Friday.

If Brazil no longer play samba soccer,sometimes seeming disjointed and desultory in attack,they remains formidable with an athletic and remorseless defence and enough moments of individual brilliance to summon the beautiful game and to lament its absence. Mondays victory was Brazils most impressive of their three so far. It featured glimpses of ostentation and fluidity that recalled a more elegant past. But mostly the match was one of dogged hustle and incessant running to intercept Chiles florid attack,strip it and boomerang it in the opposite direction.

In the 35th minute,Maicons corner kick found center back Juan,who was challenged only by other teammates seeking to score,not by any Chilean defenders. Juan headed the ball sharply from 10 yards,and Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo raised his right hand too late as Brazil went ahead,1-0.

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Three minutes later,Brazil scored on a quick counterattack. Maicon whipped a long pass to midfield,and Kaká headed the ball to Robinho down the left flank. Robinho crossed back to Kaká,who slid the ball perfectly forward to Luís Fabiano in the penalty area.

Last nail

Chiles offside trap failed,and Fabiano stepped around the charging Bravo and tapped the ball into an empty net,scoring his third goal in four games and giving Brazil a 2-0 lead. Brazils final goal came in the 59th minute,when midfielder Ramires stole a pass at midfield,dribbled through acres of open space and passed at the top of the penalty area to Robinho. His one-touch shot curled around Bravo and inside the right post,putting Brazil ahead,3-0.

If Brazil are not always brilliant,they do possess remarkable depth and resourcefulness. Elano,who had two goals and an assist in group play,and Felipe Melo were absent from midfield with injury. They were hardly missed.

Before Mondays game,Dunga defended his teams style. This is becoming a daily occurrence,like shaving. Brazils World Cup titlists from 1958,1962 and 1970 are remembered fondly because of the polishing of time and the enhancing of their artistry through edited video remnants,Dunga suggested.

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They just show the good parts, Dunga said. If we take the current Brazilian team and just show the best bits,fans will think it is a spectacular team.

He continually reminds reporters that soccer today is different in terms of fitness and tactics and pressure. But he also concedes that it is human nature to think fondly of the past,knowing that his team also has the possibility to grow in affection with the passage of time. For now,beauty can take a back seat to mercilessness.

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