Two Greatest Teams In The World

It may only be a friendly, but all eyes will be on the Emirates Stadium in London on Tuesday night, as the two most illustrious and successful names in international football meet in what promises to be an enthralling encounter.

With nine World Cups between them, these two powerhouses have served up a whole host of classic matches over the years, including Brazils 4-1 World Cup final triumph in 1970, and Italys gripping 3-2 victory at Espana 82.

Historically this clash has always been painted as the kings of attack, Brazil, against the kings of defence, Italy. The Selecao have produced many of the games legendary forwards, such as Pele, Zico and Ronaldo, while the Azzurri have supplied many of the great stoppers, Gaetano Scirea, Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini, to name just a few.

In recent years though, the tables have turned somewhat. After Marcello Lippis first spell began in 2004, Italy have been noticeably more offensive and open, as was shown during their success in Germany. Meanwhile, since Dunga took the reigns of Brazil in 2006, the Samba Boys have certainly been less free-flowing, and indeed they have kept seven clean sheets in their last eight games.

Dunga Still Not Popular

It is partly for this extra-emphasis on defence that Dunga is still yet to win over the Brazilian public. The 6-2 thrashing of Cristiano Ronaldos Portugal in the last friendly in November was a huge boost, but there are still many who believe that, with Dunga in charge, Brazil will not win the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.

There are others who say that if the Selecao lift the trophy playing typical Dunga-style football, i.e. efficient and defensive, then they will not embrace the accomplishment. The 45-year-old was captain of Brazil when they beat Italy on penalties in the final of the 1994 World Cup, but this triumph was not particularly well-received in the South American country, due to the fact Carlos Alberto Parreiras men played un-Brazilian futebol on their way to the title.

Brazil have to be Braziiiiil, and this is something that Dunga has to rectify. The friendly against Italy, a country he knows well, having spent six years of his playing career there, will give him the perfect chance to silence his doubters.

However, Dunga has been criticised for his squad selection and refusal once again to call-up Juventus star Amauri, who has been an absolute revelation in Serie A, and is considered by many to be one of Europes best hitmen. The coachs attempt to then replace the injured Luis Fabiano with Amauri, late in the day, backfired when Juventus snubbed the post-deadline call. This dallying could cost Brazil a genuine top-class striker, as there is still a good chance Amauri could opt to play for Italy once he is issued with an Italian passport.

Despite all these talking points, Brazil are not in the worst form in the world. They are unbeaten since June of last year and, until conceding two against Portugal, had kept seven clean sheets in succession. But with goalless draws against Bolivia and Col****ia, mixed in with the four goal victories over the Selecção das Quinas and Venezuela, this form has still been patchy.

Lippi Going For World Record

Italy coach Marcello Lippi stands on the cusp of yet more history-making on Tuesday night. If his side wins or draws, Lippi will break the all-time record of successive international games without defeat.

The Viareggio-born tactician, who surpassed Vittorio Pozzos Italy record of 30 games following the friendly draw against Greece in November, now has the chance to make his own stretch run to 32, more than any other national coach in the history of the game. This sequence spans both of Lippis spells in charge, and the last time that a Lippi-led Italy team tasted defeat was way back on October 9, 2004 when Slovenia won 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier in Celje.

Despite this incredible run, Lippis return to the Italy bench has not been completely smooth. Having famously led La Nazionale to World Cup glory in 2006 and, after a disappointing Euro 2008 under Roberto Donadoni, he was brought back to the helm to lead the defence of their trophy in South Africa.

It has not been all plain-sailing so far. In his first game, Italy had to recover from two goals down to earn a 2-2 friendly draw against Austria. The Azzurri then kicked off the 2010 qualifying campaign with an inauspicious 2-1 win over Cyprus last month in Larnaca, before improving slightly to beat Georgia 2-0, draw 0-0 in Bulgaria and overcome Montenegro 2-1.

The Azzurri are top of Group 8, with 10 points from four games, but their most recent game, the 1-1 comeback friendly draw in Greece, proved that this is a Lippi team way off the standards they set in Germany in 2006. Many have criticised the man from Viareggio for not *lo**ing more youth in his squad.

Lippi has never faced a Brazilian team during his whole career as a coach, and indeed Brazil and Italy have not faced-off for 12 years. The last time they met was in the pre France '98 Le Tournoi warm-up competition back in June 1997. This game ended in a 3-3 draw, with Alessandro Del Piero scoring twice for Cesare Maldinis men, and late goals from Ronaldo and Romario earning the Selecao a share of the spoils.

FORM GUIDE

Brazil

19/11 (Friendly): Brazil-Portugal 6-2
15/10 (World Cup Qualifying): Brazil-Col****ia 0-0
12/10 (World Cup Qualifying): Venezuela-Brazil 0-4
10/09 (World Cup Qualifying): Brazil-Bolivia 0-0
07/09 (World Cup Qualifying): Chile-Brazil 0-3

Italy

19/11 (Friendly): Greece-Italy 1-1
15/10 (World Cup Qualifying): Italy-Montenegro 2-1
11/10 (World Cup Qualifying): Bulgaria-Italy 0-0
10/09 (World Cup Qualifying): Italy-Georgia 2-0
06/09 (World Cup Qualifying): Cyprus-Italy 1-2
 
TEAM NEWS

Brazil

Brazil coach Carlos Dunga recalled Ronaldinho for the trip to London, despite the playmakers recent troubles at Milan. Adriano was also given the nod, and was part of a large Italian-based contingent. Luis Fabiano, Anderson and, most recently, Kaka were forced to pull out of the original squad due to injury. Dunga attempted to draft in Amauri as a late replacement for Fabiano, but his club side Juventus rejected the call, claiming it arrived too late.

Squad: Julio Cesar (Inter), Alexandre Doni (Roma); Lucio (Bayern Munich), Juan (Roma), Luisao (Benfica), Thiago Silva (Milan), Maicon (Inter), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Adriano (Sevilla), Marcelo (Real Madrid); Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos), Elano (Manchester City), Josue (Wolfsburg), Ronaldinho (Milan), Julio Baptista (Roma), Felipe Melo (Fiorentina); Robinho (Manchester City), Alexandre Pato (Milan), Adriano (Inter).

Possible formation: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Lucio, Juan, Adriano, Gilberto Silva, Felipe Melo, Elano, Ronaldinho, Robinho, Pato.

Italy

Gianluigi Buffon and Andrea Pirlo both returned to the Italy squad following long-term injury. Roma's Alberto Aquilani, Udinese's Antonio Di Natale and Milan defender Gianluca Zambrotta also made their way back after missing the last friendly against Greece. There was no place for Antonio Cassano, Alessandro Del Piero, or Giorgio Chiellini, the defender missing out due to injury. Paolo Maldini was not called up, despite Goal.coms campaign, but he will almost certainly be granted a farewell match for the Azzurri before he retires from football.

Squad: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Marco Amelia (Palermo), Morgan De Sanctis (Galatasaray); Daniele Bonera (Milan), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Andrea Dossena (Liverpool), Alessandro Gamberini (Fiorentina), Fabio Grosso (Olympique Lyonnais), Nicola Legrottaglie (Juventus), Gianluca Zambrotta (Milan); Alberto Aquilani (Roma), Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Simone Pepe (Udinese), Simone Perrotta (Roma), Andrea Pirlo (Milan); Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal), Luca Toni (Bayern Munich).

Possible formation: Buffon; Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Legrottaglie, Grosso; De Rossi, Pirlo, Perrotta; Di Natale; Toni, Camoranesi.
 
PLAYERS TO WATCH

Alexandre Pato (Brazil)

One of the most in-form players in Serie A at the moment, Pato exploded into life around December time, and has not looked back since, tearing up defences right, left and centre. His pace, skill and trickery could cause the Italian defence all kinds of problems if they dont close down the space and shut off the supply.

Andrea Pirlo (Italy)

Has been back to something close to his best in recent weeks, and a match against Brazil should suit his style of play down to the ground. Pirlo is the instigator of most Italy attacks, controlling the tempo and dictating the play. If he can run the show in London, then the Azzurri will have a fine chance of taking home the bragging rights.

PREDICTION

There will be a lot of pressure on both coaches to make a spectacle out of this prestigious match, and with so much money at stake, particularly from sponsors and the like, expect an interesting battle.

Brazil 2-2 Italy