Brazil vs. North Korea World Cup: Brazil Gets the Job Done Against North Korea

I won't lie to you. I was expecting Brazil to score at least four goals against North Korea. After Germany's brilliant performance against Australia I believed Brazil would step up to the plate and show why they're among my top three candidates to lift the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

We can't say they tried. We could see Robinho's fancy footwork a few times, Maicon and Michel Bastos running down the wings, and birthday boy Elano having a solid presentation. However Kaká played bellow his capabilities and so did Luís Fabiano.

Thanks to Maicon's fantastic finish (and don't tell me he didn't mean to do that because HE DID) and Robinho's perfect pass to Elano's precise finish, Brazil came on top to take the lead in group G.

Now, there's also another huge reason for the tight score and the difficulties Brazil had to penetrate the North Korean defense: Asian discipline.

You see, one would expect that after the first goal the Koreans would attempt to equalize and therefore create some space in their backline but they kept their defensive strategy. They were happy being down only by one goal.

My hope is that now that Brazil will face the talented squad of Ivory Coast we'll be able to watch a more open match with both teams having space to create and find goal opportunities. And hear me well, Ivory Coast will be a much tougher challenge for Brazil than Portugal.

The Portuguese team I saw today against the Ivorians played horrendous football. Far from what a so-called top European team should present. Cristiano Ronaldo was the only one actually trying to produce something but as his frustration grew the diving spectacle began and he became the big baby we've seen in previous World Cups. There, I said it.

Cheers,

PS.: Happy Birthday Elano. You had a great game and deserved the goal as a birthday gift.