Even the name Brazil has a magic to it, something exotic and it is esoteric and universal at the same time. There will be numerous other teams and numerous other players in World Cup 2010 in South Africa, but once the 'Yellow Canneries' touch the field all will be forgotten.
Agreed, this Brazilian side is not in the mould of their predecessors of 60s, 70s or 80s when Pele, Garrincha, Rivelino, Zico, and Socretes enthralled the world with pure wizardry. Those days, perhaps, beauty mattered slightly more to a Brazilian than victory. Still, they are the most successful country in the World Cup, winning five World Cups.
Now, under Dunga, Brazil has welded the traditional Latin American style with the element of power, once a facemark of the European teams. Now, you might trace only in patches the flow, natural touch and dazzling skills acquired from the streets of Rio de Janeiro that made Brazil a worldwide favorite, but the joy of watching them has not diminished one bit.
So, what seperates Brazilians from rest of the teams from Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Africa?
Football field is an arena for self expression for each Brazilian player and for their fans an altar to worship their heroes and a magical imaginarium that relieves them from worldly hazards, leaving the rest of the world in amazement over the unique union of the game, players and fans. That's something typical to Brazil's football as any other nation can't claim such a complete relation between the three segments.
It's that belief in each other makes them a treat to watch and perennial favourites in the biggest single-event sporting show on earth. And what are their chances in this edition of the World Cup then?
Without underestimating the abilities of Robinho, they might be slightly over-reliant on Kaka to score and create opportunities and they might miss the creativity of Ronaldinho, omitted by coach Dunga after a poor season with AC Milan.
Their forward-line may not have the firepower to intimidate the opponents with Manchester City player Robinho being their best bet. Nilmar (Inter Milan), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla) and Alexandre Pato (AC Milan) are greenhorns at the top level.
Midfield will revolve around Kaka while Anderson (Manchester United) and Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos) could be his trusted allies. Defence has always been the Achilles heel of Brazilian teams of the past. "Every Brazilian wants to score goal, so we don't have great defenders," former midfielder Rivaldo once offered the reason behind that traditional weakness.
However, this time they have a classy defence in Alex (Chelsea), Maicon (Inter Milan) and Lucio (Bayern Munich) and if they can blunt the rival sallies effectively then Brazil will be a very formidable opposition.
But the romantics will not see those obvious flaws, their eyes and heart will be on Brazil holding aloft that Hexa Cup. After all, what better way is there to welcome World Cup 2014 at home than being the defending champions?
