Kaka: Brazil will keep feet on ground

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(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-06-30 09:44

JOHANNESBURG: Brazilian playmaker Kaka says the squad have learnt from the mistakes they made four years ago when they won the Confederations Cup, then headed off to the World Cup in Germany expecting to win that too.

Man of the match Brazil's Kaka celebrates with his trophies after defeating the US to win the Confederations Cup final soccer match in Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg June 28 2009. Brazil won the match 3-2. [Agencies]

Instead, they failed to retain the trophy they won in 2002, going out to France in the quarterfinals.

Kaka played a key role as Brazil retained the Confederations Cup on Sunday with a 3-2 comeback win over the United States and although he did not score he was named Man of the Match and also Player of the Tournament.

Asked if the success made Brazil favorites to win the World Cup next year, he replied: "Well, we have to qualify first. We have four games left and hopefully we will qualify.

"But we must avoid any unnecessary euphoria now because after we won the Confederations Cup in 2005 our celebrations were too euphoric.

"Now we must keep very calm, but when we get together as a squad and train together for an extended period, we know what we are capable of. If we do go to the World Cup as favorites, let's hope it will be justified."

No team that has won the Confederations Cup, used as a test event for the World Cup, has gone on to lift the World Cup the following year, but Kaka said Brazil obviously had a chance of coming back and doing just that. "We have played very well here and if we do the same next year we must have a chance, but we have to keep working hard and not be carried away by this success."

According to preliminary FIFA figures, Brazil will move to the top of the world rankings list when it is published on Wednesday, displacing Spain who have held the No 1 spot for the past year.

On course to maintain their record as the only team to play at all 19 World Cups, the Brazilians have also won that title five times in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002, playing a style of soccer most other nations could only dream about.

In the Pele era between the late 50s and early 70s, they set out to entertain and win at the same time, bamboozling opponents with their dribbling skills, one-touch passing, long range, swerving shots and an ideology that attack is the best form of defense.

Brazil remain the only nation to win the World Cup outside of its own continent - Uruguay and Argentina both winning in South America and Italy, Germany, England and France capturing their titles in Europe. Brazil won it in Sweden in 1958, Korea/Japan in 2002 and, on this form, looks likely to eclipse European champion Spain - which finished third here - and take the title in Africa too when the teams return here next year.

Under Dunga, who was captain when the team won in the United States in 1994, Brazil still have the players to entertain, such as Robinho, Kaka and, when he wins his place back, Ronaldinho.

On Tuesday Kaka will be officially presented as a Real Madrid player for the first time following his 68.0 million euros ($98 million) transfer from AC Milan.

Reuters/AP