Can Brazil make history in South Africa?

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Brazil has never lost on African soil, in the twelve matches they have played there till now. However, no team that won the Confederations Cup has gone on to win the next World Cup. Will Brazil break the Confederations Cup jinx? Can Dunga's new-look squad, without the stalwarts of yesteryears, Ronaldinho, Roberto Carlos and Cafu make history in South Africa by winning both the eighth Confederations Cup in 2009 and the forthcoming 19th World Cup in 2010. If Brazil wins in Africa, they will have won the World Cup in every continent, where the tournament has been played, Sweden (1958), Chile (1962), Mexico (1970), USA (1994) and Korea/Japan (2002).

This Brazil squad lacks the Samba magic of previous teams but is a very resolute side and reflects coach Dunga's pragmatism. They are using a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Luis Fabiano as the lone striker and Kaka, initiating attacks as a roving attacking midfielder. Robinho the withdrawn, left-sided central forward is vital for Brazil, as he drifts to the flanks, provides width to the team and allows Kaka and Fabiano to operate down the centre. Defensive midfielders, Gilberto Silva and Felipe Melo, function like Dunga and Mauro Santos did in the 1994 World Cup winning squad, closing down opposing attacks.

Right backs Maicon and Daniel Alaves excel in both overlapping and in defensive duties. In the 2009 Confederations Cup, striker Luis Fabiano was eulogised for finishing as top-scorer of the tournament and Kaka bagged the Golden Ball for the best player of the tournament. However it was speed on the flanks of Maicon and Alves, which made the difference. USA was leading Brazil 2-0 in the final but their organised defence crumbled due to persistent pressure as Brazil, unlike Spain, in the semifinals did not make the error of trying to force the pace through the centre.

It was an Italian, the late Giacinto Facchetti who perfected the art of the full back surging down the flanks and initiating attacks. Facchetti, 6ft 3ins tall, played for Inter Milan in their glory years under legendary coach Helenio Herrera in the 60s. They were European champions in 1964 and 1965 and runners-up in 1967 and Italian champions in 1963, 1965, 1966. Facchetti played 634 official games for Inter Milan, scoring 75 goals, till then the maximum ever scored by a defender. He played 94 times for Italy, captained on 70 occasions, scored thrice, won Euro 68 and got the runners-up medal in the 1970 World Cup.

But it was Brazil who gave this tactic a new dimension. In the 1982 World Cup, they unleashed Junior (left back) and Leandro (right back), their team's secret weapons, both capable of delivering decisive crosses to the forwards and an ability to dribble past players. Football was never the same again as quality Brazilian full backs hunted in pairs and provided the penetration that those great wingers Garrincha and Jairzino did in the past.

Other countries tried copying Brazil but could not produce quality attacking full backs like Josimar (1986) Jorginho and Branco (1994) and the dynamic duo of Cafu and Roberto Carlos (1998-2006). So, Maicon, Alaves and left back Andre Santos are just continuing a great Brazilian tradition. It is to be seen how coach Dunga uses the Barcelona defender Alaves, as an impact substitute in midfield or maybe even as left back, a problem area for Brazil. Alaves is Brazil's best free-kick expert in this squad, so Dunga will use him as much as possible.

For once Brazil's goalkeeper Julio Cesar is also considered the best in the world. Though not spectacular, Brazil is certainly strong contenders for the 2010 World Cup.