The Hindu : Sport : Brazil starts favourite

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Brazil starts favourite

South Africa banking on home support

JOHANNESBURG: South Africa’s players have to overcome the talent of Brazil and their understandable feelings of inferiority if they are to carry the hopes of a nation and reach the Confederations Cup final.

Like any opponent playing against the record five-time World Cup winner, South Africa knows it is as good as beaten if it goes onto the field for Thursday’s semifinal match star-struck by former World Player of the Year Kaka and striker Robinho.

The likes of burly central defender Matthew Booth cannot match the South Americans when it comes to skill, so the South Africans are relying on raucous home support to rouse them to a performance of greater intensity than their opponents can muster.

“We don’t want to get carried away putting these guys up on a pedestal,” South African goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez said. “Yes, they’re idols to millions and we respect them all as footballers, but we’re going to go out there on Thursday and compete on the pitch.

“It’s 11 versus 11, obviously, and I’m sure Matthew is dying to get stuck into Robinho and give Kaka a piece of his mind.”

Fernandez and Booth are among four players in the South African squad that beat Brazil at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, but an under-23 tournament is quite another thing compared to a full international like Thursday’s at Ellis Park.

Not unbeatable

“Playing for a draw against them isn’t going to do us any good,” South African midfielder Teko Modise said.

“When we first came into the camp, we said we want to go to the semis and, now we’re here, we also want to go to the final as well. It’s possible. The Brazilians are not unbeatable.”

Brazil has racked up 10 goals in group games against World champion Italy, African champion Egypt and the United States, compared to the two South Africa managed in a significantly easier group.

“But by the same token, we might look on the positive side and say they also conceded goals,” South Africa striker Katlego Mashego said.

“It’s a plus for us that they can concede goals. We get them tired, we might sneak in and have one or two chances. It’s not impossible. We just have to give our all.”

And South Africa could have the right player to take advantage of any slips by a defence that conceded three times in a 4-3 win over Egypt before tightening for 3-0 wins over the United States and Italy.

Brazil has scored more goals than anyone else, two more than European champion Spain.

With Luis Fabiano, Robinho and Kaka exchanging positions fluidly in attack, Booth and his colleagues could be in for a torrid time.

Brazil will be without Juan after the key defender was ruled out for the remainder of the tournament with a left thigh injury and the players were not taking anything for granted ahead of a match they are overwhelming favourites to win.

Tradition doesn’t matter

“Tradition doesn’t win or lose matches,” Fabiano said. “In a semifinal, you have to be careful. To make the final we need to enter the match with the same concentration and motivation that we had against Italy.

“It’s going to be a difficult match. They are playing at home and will give their lives against Brazil.”

One thing that is guaranteed is that Ellis Park will echo to the near-deafening noise of local supporters blowing their vuvuzela trumpets, something that those unfamiliar with South African football have said can be distracting. — AP

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