Brazil 3:0 Chile: match report

Dunga’s terminators are stampeding their way towards a sixth World Cup, offering an impression of football’s most ruthless killing machine en route. There may have been lovelier versions of Brazil’s Selecao, but surely none quite as chillingly efficient as this.

Poor old Chile came for the fight at Ellis Park, came to attack, but they were softened up, shredded by goals from Juan, Luís Fabiano and Robinho and then toyed with as Brazil, quite as hard-nosed as their boss, effortlessly booked their quarter-final spot against Holland in Port Elizabeth on Friday.

On this evidence, the Oranje will not savour the taste. For here was evidence that Brazil might just be the team with everything.

Dear old Dunga gets slated for his supposedly pragmatic ways but if pragmatism means a magnificent back four, experienced holding midfielders of streetwise excellence, a creator of Kaká’s touch, which he is regaining by the game, and a lightning strike force headed by a razor sharp predator such as Fabiano, then who needs romanticism?

Yes, Dunga likes his security blankets; yes, his team’s success is built on hard pressing labour. But you have to give the man credit where it is due.


Some of his team’s football remains a quicksilver delight, their solidity suddenly and intermittently illuminated by shafts of brilliance. Take Fabiano’s goal; this was team play at its finest. By the end last night, Dunga had his tormentors in the 800-strong Brazilian media corps eating out of his hand. Not one word of criticism could be heard as they were not about to argue with his verdict: “We played a nice game; we have to go forward and play open football — that’s what people want to see.” It is all gelling quite handsomely. There was a little alarm for Dunga in Kaka, just back from his red card suspension, picking up another yellow from Howard Webb for a foul but that was offset by the evidence that, bit by bit, he is looking like his old self after his thigh injury.

“Yes, the yellow card is a problem because I don’t want Kaká to be left suspended,” said Dunga. “But we have built him up very carefully to be able to play here and now we’re seeing the benefit.” Yes, like the beautiful cushioned first-time pass which set up Fabiano’s goal.

You had to feel for Chile. If you come to take on this Brazil with the defensive attitude that Portugal did, you may survive; if you come to take the game to them, you are liable to be filleted. Even a team who have graced the tournament as impressively as Marcelo Bielsa’s.

On an evening mild enough even for Dunga to discard his U-boat captain polo neck, Chile provided more warmth with their neat interplay, even if the most striking sight early on was that of Gilberto Silva forcing a fine save with a 25-yard shot. He does not get noticed often but the old Arsenal midfielder, these days at Panathinaikos, is still doing a grand holding job.

The lively Jean Beasejour had one strike deflected for a corner while Pablo Contreras almost connected with a header from a corner, but it always felt as if Brazil were playing on a leash, ready at any moment to slip it.

When they did, they simply flew away. First, Maicon’s corner sailed beyond the penalty spot for the Roma centre-back Juan to head home with ferocity.

Then a couple of minutes later, Robinho careered on the break down the left, offered a precise pass to Kaká, whose touch was so perfect it enabled Fabiano to round Bravo and tap into an empty net. Supreme.

The game was already over. In days of Rivelinho yore, we may have imagined a Brazilian side two up to go dancing. Not Dunga’s mob. Discipline and concentration reigned, with just the odd cavalier moment to savour as when the mad and magnificent Lúcio went galumphing 80 yards downfield and slipped a lovely ball to Robinho, whose lack of control earned him a look which could have killed from his captain.

Brazil’s third was superb too, a marvellous interception and slaloming run from Ramires, who surged forward and laid off a simple pass for Robinho to curl home. It could have been more – Dani Alves almost scored from 35 yards, Kaká shot just over and Robinho almost added another on the break — but it would have been hard on Chile.

Then, one final demonstration of Brazil’s complete all-round quality. When Humberto Suazo thought he had scored with an exceedingly rare shot, Júlio César was equal to it, just a reminder that they have the best goalkeeper in the world, too.

Who in the name of Maradona can stop them?