PORT ELIZABETH // When the World Cup draw was held in Cape Town last December, Dunga, the Brazil coach, joked it would be "Brazil A versus Brazil B" when his side were pitched in the same group as Portugal. Carlos Quieroz, Dunga's Portugese counterpart, retorted: "All Brazilians are the descendants of Portuguese ancestors."
The amusing pleasantries will be put aside in Durban today. With the final Group G placings at stake, Brazil face Portugal in a match that pits the world's first- and third-ranked sides against each other. The pair have met 18 times in the past, with Portugal's former colony dominating their old world masters. Portugal have beaten Brazil just four times while there have been only two draws. But both sides are unbeaten in South Africa. Brazil, the five-time world champions, have won two consecutive games and lead the group on six points. After a goalless opening tie with Ivory Coast, Portugal's scintillating, seven-goal dismantling of the hapless North Korea puts them on four.
Currently, there is a nine-goal difference between the Ivorians and the Portuguese, leaving the Europeans needing just a draw to progress. But damage limitation is not on Portugal's agenda. Stale and lifeless in the warm-up matches, top spot is the new objective for a side galvanised by the rout of North Korea. "Of course it will be tougher against Brazil," Bruno Alaves, the Portugal centre-half, said. "It will be a difficult match and neither side will want to lose. Brazil have a very good team, but we want to play in these type of games - good, open matches.
"We have been preparing for Brazil in the best way we can, but we remain humble and confident that we can progress in first place." With Dunga's Brazil a formidable blend of steel and guile, hope for Alaves and company comes with Kaka's absence. The Brazilian playmaker is suspended after being harshly sent-off against Ivory Coast on Sunday. "We know Kaka is a wonderful player, but they have other players, very good ones, who will want to impress," Alaves said.
But Ricardo Carvalho, Alaves' partner at the heart of the Portuguese defence, would prefer that the Real Madrid magician play. "He is a top player and I always want to play against the best - to challenge myself. It's better playing good players than bad ones," the Chelsea defender said. It is unclear who will replace Kaka. In images obtained by the Brazilian media, Julio Baptista filled the role in the penultimate training session. The Roma forward, however, remains in the dark over his manager's plans. "If [Dunga] decides that I will get to play, I will be ready," Baptista said.
Another contender is Robinho. The Manchester City player has occupied the Kaka position before and feels he can make the slot his own. "It wouldn't be a problem for me. We can make it work that way too," he said. On the eve of the match, a confident Dunga gave nothing away. "There is a lot we can do at midfield," Dunga said. "We have versatile players." Having scored his first international goal in 16 months against North Korea, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka's teammate at Real, is key to Portugal's ambitions.
Ronaldo's off-the-ball runs dictate Portugal's play and allow Hugo Almeida, the lone striker, and the midfielders Tiago, Raul Meireles and Simao, to get into the holes those surges create in the defence. "Ronaldo is important for us. He can decide games on his own, but Portugal plays not just with Ronaldo," said Tiago, most observers' man-of-the-match in their last match. "We have many other players who can decide the game and hopefully Ronaldo will open spaces for the other guys." @Email:emegson@thenational.ae
Watch Brazil v Portugal (6pm) and Chile v Spain (10.30pm) on Aljazeera World Cup and Ivory Coast v North Korea (6pm) and Switzerland v Honduras (10.30pm) on Aljazeera Sport +9.