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Brazil's players celebrate after team mate Robinho scored a goal past Chile's goalkeeper Claudio Bravo (R) during a 2010 World Cup second round soccer match at Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg June 28, 2010. [Agencies] |
CAPE TOWN - In the search for tactical supremacy, soccer's big guns and some young pretenders have turned to the chapter marked 'counter-attack' to blast their way into the World Cup quarter-finals.
Mouth-watering matches between Argentina and Germany, and Netherlands and Brazil are next in line while neutrals will no doubt be willing on Uruguay, Paraguay, who are in the last eight for the first time, or Ghana, who carry the hopes of Africa.
Spain marched on by ending the challenge of neighbours Portugal as number two in the world overcame number three in as dominant a 1-0 win as is possible, while Paraguay got past Japan on penalties after the only goalless encounter.
After the 48 group matches produced an average of just over two goals per game, the 16 second-round games delivered just under three.
On the downside there were two monumental blunders by the match officials with England and Mexico on the receiving end, which immediately reopened the debate over goalline technology and even prompted a rare apology from FIFA boss Sepp Blatter.
After the upsets of the group stage when Italy and France were sent packing, the second-phase games went largely to form.
Brazil, seeking to win the World Cup on a fifth continent, looked ominously impressive in a 3-0 victory over a Chile side who played right into the hands of Dunga's team.
With marauding fullbacks and fizzing front men showing the counter-attacking approach they have perfected under Dunga, Brazil were like a venus fly trap and when Chile ventured too close, too often, they were picked clean in an instant.
Brazil's second goal, a high-speed combination by Robinho and Kaka to set up Luis Fabiano, was a classic.
"Brazil, which has always been the country of attacking football and pressure, is now the country of defence and a powerful counter-attack," 1970 World Cup winner Tostao wrote in a recent column.
"Brazilian football which is admired all around the world for its touch, for exchanging passes and dominating the game, no longer exists. Now it's a game of tough marking and counter-attacks -- often brilliantly carried out."
