Dunga happy to build on Brazil's win over Zimbabwe

By foxsports
Published

Brazil coach Dunga says he "learned a lot" from his team's comfortable victory over Zimbabwe in its first warmup match for the World Cup.

Brazil won 3-0 in Harare on Wednesday but had to overcome a sloppy start that allowed 110th-ranked Zimbabwe to unsettle the five-time world champions.

"We learned a lot," said Dunga, whose team had not played since beating Ireland in a friendly in March. "They marked us well and played with speed, like the African teams always do.

"The players were a bit too anxious to get the ball to the goal, and that left the team too spaced out on the field. But that's normal, as we play more that's not going to be much of a problem."

Brazil's final warmup match is against Tanzania in Dar es Salaam on Monday.

Dunga picked African opposition for his team's preparations as it faces the Ivory Coast in its second World Cup Group G match.

The coach began the Zimbabwe game with most of the players expected to start at the World Cup, with the exception of defender Juan, who is not fully fit.

Dunga later made six substitutions to test some alternatives and rest some of his starters, including playmaker Kaka and striker Luis Fabiano, who are coming off injuries.

Left-back Michel Bastos opened the scoring at Harare's National Sports Stadium with his first goal for Brazil in the 41st minute. Robinho added the second in the 44th and Elano sealed the victory in the 56th minute.

Brazil had an injury scare when starting goalkeeper Julio Cesar fell awkwardly and asked to be substituted midway through the first half, but doctors said the back injury was not serious and that the substitution was precautionary.

Julio Cesar underwent treatment on Thursday but was expected to be practicing normally on Friday.

Kaka played only one half but Dunga liked how the Real Madrid player performed following poor outings in practice.

"He had been a bit anxious in his first practice, trying to do too much," Dunga said. "But he is progressing, and the tendency is for him to keep improving."

Brazil's first World Cup game is against North Korea in Johannesburg on June 15. After meeting the Ivory Coast on June 20, it faces Portugal in Durban on June 25.