Pressure on Brazil normal but unfair: Dunga

Brazil coach Dunga said on Thursday that the pressure on perennial favourites Brazil to deliver a sixth World Cup was normal – but unfair.

Addressing reporters at a news conference at team headquarters in Randburg, north of Johannesburg, Dunga said that “the pressure is normal. We have to play to win – this is the Brazilian mentality. All that has gone before is to be left in the past,” said Dunga.

Since taking over the job in 2006 he has won the 2007 Copa America and the 2009 Confederations Cup as well as guided the auriverde to top spot in the qualifiers for South Africa.

Dunga, a winner as a player in 1994, noted that Brazil always have to deliver given their history and warned he was well aware that the press knives were always on the point of being sharpened in readiness for a slip up.

“Here we will have 300 journalists from Brazil who are hoping we don’t win the next event so they can say they were right all along – that he (the coach) got lucky in the Copa America and the Confederations Cup.

“But in reality it’s not just with me that this happens but they demand every coach wins.”

Dunga said that 108 goals scored under his tutelage and generally miserly defending “shows that there is a balance in the Brazilian team.”

Brazil will compete in Group G alongside North Korea, Ivory Coast and Portugal.

After beating Zimbabwe 3-0 in a friendly in Harare on Wednesday Dunga’s men will take on Tanzania on Monday in their final tune-up.