With a spot in the next round secure, Brazil and Portugal face off in their last Group G match at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Friday with little at stake except pride. However, for the two historically linked nations there is great a premium on honour and anything short of a win will not satisfy the players or the passionate fans in the most eagerly anticipated clash of the opening round.
Brazil have a perfect record after their first two games and lead the way with six points. Portugal are on four points, but thanks to a 7-0 thrashing of North Korea have a goal difference which Ivory Coast, who have earned just a point from their first two matches, will find next to impossible to match.
Portugal colonised Brazil in the 1500s and ruled the South American nation till 1822, when independent Brazil was born. In the 300-year period Brazil adopted the Portuguese language and much of the Europeans’ culture. In the colonial period Brazil exported sugar, gold and coffee. Now, the nation exports footballers.
Many countries have adopted Brazil-origin footballers; Portugal are no exception and have three players of Brazilian heritage — Deco, Pepe and Liedson.
Brazil, however, are unlikely to ease up — even if their spot in the next round is already secure. The Brazilians take special delight in beating their former rulers as can be evidenced by their imposing record against the Portuguese, with 12 wins from 18 matches and a thumping 6-2 win over the Europeans in their last encounter at Brasilia in 2008.
“In the Brazil team our duty is to win every game,” said skipper Lucio.
“We play for the honour of the Brazilian shirt and the Brazilian public. We don’t pick our opponents.”
A red card to Kaka in the last match rules out the attacking midfielder, and coach Dunga will most likely go with the man who filled in for the Real Madrid ace during last year’s Copa America — Julio Baptista.
A crushing tackle on his midfield partner Elano has also puts doubts over the Galatasary man’s participation with a final call to be taken just before kick off.
Portugal were sublime in their last outing and looked set to score in double figures. Missing out on the goal-frolic was Sao Paulo-born nationalised Portuguese playmaker Deco, and the Chelsea midfielder is eager to overcome a late fitness battle to make it for the crunch match. However, the form of his stand-in Tiago has been exemplary enough to confine the former Barcelona man to the bench.
Asked about his hip, Deco said: “It’s so-so. I’ll try to be better for the game but we’ll see. I’m still having treatment and I hope to be available.”
The most important thing for the Iberians has been the return to goal-scoring ways, after a two-year drought, of the team’s marquee player Cristiano Ronaldo — who struck their sixth goal against the Koreans.
“He was a little bit disappointed because he wants to score in every game,” said central defender Ricardo Carvalho. “It’s important for him to score, and for us as well because the more confidence he gets, the better it is for us,” added the Chelsea defender.
Joga Bonita, the Portuguese phrase which now act as a commercial slogan for Nike, is a saying players of both teams understand well. Let’s hope the two teams stay true to their words on the morrow.