Portugal v Brazil: match preview

Group G
Portugal v Brazil
Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
Kick-off: Fri June 25, 3pm BST
Both teams are already virtually guaranteed of their qualification, but the temptation to rest key players will be tempered by the battle to top Group G, even though that will not necessarily mean avoiding Spain in the last 16.
Kaka will take an enforced rest following his sending-off against the Ivory Coast, meaning that Dunga must choose between Ramires or Julio Baptista for this match.
After an uncertain qualification and warm-up for the World Cup, Portugal will hope to derive considerable momentum from their stylish 7-0 thrashing of North Korea. Ronaldo, in particular, will feel like a huge weight has been lifted after his first international goal for 16 months.

Key Clash
Luis Fabiano v Ricardo Carvalho: Carvalho is one of the most accomplished and experienced defenders at the World Cup, having been a key part of the Portugal teams who reached at least the semi-finals of both the European Championship and World Cup. Fabiano also has an impressive tournament pedigree with nine goals in year’s Confederations Cup and two already in this tournament.
Touchline duel
Dunga v Carlos Quieroz: Despite positive starts to the World Cup, both managers have been enduring an uneasy relationship with their own national media.
Dunga is the subject of strong criticism in Brazil for abandoning the past policy of conducting all their training in public while Quieroz has been under intense scrutiny for most of the past two years after struggling both to qualify and step out of Luis-Felipe Scolari’s shadow.
Talking tactics
Without Kaka and with only a draw needed to advance as group winners, Brazil will focus first on stifling a Portugal attack that will be buoyant after the trouncing of the Ivory Coast.
The handling of Ronaldo as part of a three-man Portugal attack will be particularly fascinating, particularly as Brazil left-back Michel Bastos lacks experience and loves to bomb forward.
What they say
Dunga: “Kaka will be able to rest a little more. There is a lot we can do in midfield without him. We have versatile players. The players showed a lot of maturity against the Ivory Coast. I always tell my players that they have to play hard, but they have to play football."
Carlos Quieroz: “I believe we can go a long way in the competition. I’ve a wide choice of very talented players, the team ethic is strong, we’ve a great deal of tournament experience, the structures around the squad are right.”
Teams
Brazil (4-3-3): 1 Cesar; 2 Maicon, 3 Lucio, 4 Juan, 6 Bastos; 13 Alves, 5 Melo, 8 G Silva; 19 Baptista, 9 Fabiano, 11 Robinho
Subs: 13 Alves, 12 Gomes, 22 Doni, 14, Luisao, 15 D Silva, 16 Gilberto, 17 Josue, 20 Kleberson, 21 Nilmar, 23 Grafite, 18 Ramires, 7 Elano
Portugal (4-3-3): 1 Eduardo; 13 Miguel, 2 Alves, 6 Carvalho, 23 Coentrao; 19 Tiago, 8 Mendes, 16 Meireles; 7 Ronaldo, 18 Almeida, 11 Simau
Subs: 14 Veloso, 9 Liedson, 5 Duda, 12 Beto, 22 Fernandes, 3 Ferreira, 4 Rolando, 15 Pepe, 21 Costa, 17 Anorim, 20 Deco, 10 Dann
Referee: TBC.
Previous meetings
Played 18: Portugal 4, Draws 2, Brazil 12
1956: (Lisbon, friendly): Portugal 0 Brazil 1
1957: (Rio De Janeiro, friendly): Brazil 2 Portugal 1
1957: (Sao Paulo, friendly): Brazil 3 Portugal 0
1962: (Sao Paulo, friendly): Brazil 2 Portugal 1
1962: (Rio De Janeiro, friendly): Brazil 1 Portugal 0
1963: (Lisbon, friendly): Portugal 1 Brazil 0
1964: (Rio De Janeiro, friendly): Brazil 4 Portugal 1
1965: (Porto, friendly): Portugal 0 Brazil 0
1966: (Liverpool, WC): Brazil 1 Portugal 3
1968: (Machava, friendly): Portugal 0 Brazil 2
1972: (Rio De Janeiro, friendly): Brazil 1 Portugal 0
1982: (Sao Luiz, friendly): Brazil 3 Portugal 1
1983: (Coimbra, friendly): Portugal 0 Brazil 4
1989: (Rio De Janeiro, friendly): Brazil 4 Portugal 0
2001: (Lisbon, friendly): Portugal 1 Brazil 1
2003: (Porto, friendly): Portugal 2 Brazil 1
2007: (London, friendly): Brazil 0 Portugal 2
2008: (Gama, friendly): Brazil 6 Brazil 2
Fact: Brazil have won their last eight games in the group stages of the World Cup. Their last defeat at this stage was against Norway in 1998 – their only group defeat in 26 games.
Prediction: A fascinating clash and one which should go the way of Brazil.