Brazilian superstar Robinho believes his country’s quarter-final showdown with the Netherlands will be a great spectacle, while his team remain confident of progressing (Holland 16/5, draw 11/5, Brazil 20/21).
Robinho endured a difficult domestic season in England with Manchester City before being loaned out to Santos in his homeland in January but has enjoyed a successful World Cup, with Brazil breezing into the last eight.
Boss Dunga has been criticised in his homeland for the style of play, with a greater emphasis on defence than has perhaps been seen in previous Brazil sides, but Robinho is sure the quarter-final showdown with the Netherlands will be a mouth-watering contest (Brazil 4/9 to qualify, Holland 13/8).
“It’s a world football classic. It’s going to be like a final,” he explained.
It could be argued that neither Brazil nor the Netherlands have produced an exceptional performance as yet in South Africa. The European giants comfortably made it through their group, beating the likes of Denmark, Japan and Cameroon, but did not produce the kind of ‘total football’ for which the nation is so famous for.
The Oranje saw off a spirited Slovakia side in the last 16 but while Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder may have impressed the likes of Robin van Persie and Rafael van der Vaart have arguably failed to deliver at this stage in the competition.
Brazil have surpassed Spain as favourites for the tournament after easing through a group that included North Korea, Portugal and the Ivory Coast and comfortably seeing off Chile 3-0 in the last 16. However, while Brazilian teams in the past have been characterised by the flair and guile of players such as Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Romario and Pele, amongst numerous others, the current side relies as heavily on other aspects of their game.
The superb goalkeeping ability of Julio Cesar, the experience of defender and captain Lucio and the workmanlike attitude of holding midfielder Gilberto Silva are as crucial to this crop of Brazilian stars as the skills of players such as Robinho and Benfica playmaker Ramires.
Dunga has brushed aside any criticism of his team by Brazil?s press in the past, and like Robinho he expects their quarter-final showdown to be one for the football purists.
He said: “We know the Netherlands are a very difficult team to play against.
“Their football is actually very similar to South American football. They don’t try to stay defending and rely on long balls.
“They have technical quality and we will need to be ready for that. It’s a solid team.”
Robinho ready for ‘world football classic’
Robinho endured a difficult domestic season in England with Manchester City before being loaned out to Santos in his homeland in January but has enjoyed a successful World Cup, with Brazil breezing into the last eight.
Boss Dunga has been criticised in his homeland for the style of play, with a greater emphasis on defence than has perhaps been seen in previous Brazil sides, but Robinho is sure the quarter-final showdown with the Netherlands will be a mouth-watering contest (Brazil 4/9 to qualify, Holland 13/8).
“It’s a world football classic. It’s going to be like a final,” he explained.
It could be argued that neither Brazil nor the Netherlands have produced an exceptional performance as yet in South Africa. The European giants comfortably made it through their group, beating the likes of Denmark, Japan and Cameroon, but did not produce the kind of ‘total football’ for which the nation is so famous for.
The Oranje saw off a spirited Slovakia side in the last 16 but while Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder may have impressed the likes of Robin van Persie and Rafael van der Vaart have arguably failed to deliver at this stage in the competition.
Brazil have surpassed Spain as favourites for the tournament after easing through a group that included North Korea, Portugal and the Ivory Coast and comfortably seeing off Chile 3-0 in the last 16. However, while Brazilian teams in the past have been characterised by the flair and guile of players such as Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Romario and Pele, amongst numerous others, the current side relies as heavily on other aspects of their game.
The superb goalkeeping ability of Julio Cesar, the experience of defender and captain Lucio and the workmanlike attitude of holding midfielder Gilberto Silva are as crucial to this crop of Brazilian stars as the skills of players such as Robinho and Benfica playmaker Ramires.
Dunga has brushed aside any criticism of his team by Brazil?s press in the past, and like Robinho he expects their quarter-final showdown to be one for the football purists.
He said: “We know the Netherlands are a very difficult team to play against.
“Their football is actually very similar to South American football. They don’t try to stay defending and rely on long balls.
“They have technical quality and we will need to be ready for that. It’s a solid team.”
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