Brazil vs. Ivory Coast 2010 World Cup:: The Secret To Brazil's Success

Two wins from two games in Group G of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa has seen Brazil lead the way and prove their worth as one of the favourites to lift the most prestigious prize in football yet again.

Despite Real Madrid's Kaka getting unjustly sent off and Chelsea's Didier Drogba making light work on one occasion of the Selecao defence, Brazil managed to beautifully play their way to an entertaining, convincing, and deserved 3-1 victory over the Ivory Coast.

A double from Sevilla striker Luis Fabiano, as well as a decent finish from Galatasaray's midfield maestro Elano saw Brazil to victory in Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg with an 84,000+ crowd in attendance.

And it was all made possible thanks to head coach Dunga , the former Selecao captain who led his nation to glory as a player in USA '94.

The "double pivot" worked wonders for Brazil in Joburg , with Dunga employing two holding midfielders, Felipo Melo and Gilberto Silva, just ahead of the back four.

This allowed the two full-backs, Maicon and Michel Bastos , to bomb forward at every opportunity and create attacks, whilst providing defensive cover should the move break down and the opposition counter-attack.

Of course there are other variables contributing to Brazil's success, such as the brilliant individual quality of every player in the squad, the strong team unity within the side, etc.

But against the top sides especially, this double pivot tactic allows the Samba Kings to attack and defend efficiently, freeing up the midfield to enable the more attacking players like Kaka , Elano , and Robinho to join Luis Fabiano, as well as the two full-backs.

Inevitably, this tactic isn't to be utilised against weaker, defensive sides like North Korea who offer little in attack, but against the far more positive, ambitious, and better quality teams like Spain, Argentina, and the Netherlands. Brazil's double pivot will make them a nightmare to beat.

A threat from the centre with the attacking midfielders, as well as the wings, courtesy of the full-backs, the double pivot allows Brazil truly to terrify their opponents with attacking potential all over the pitch, as well as give their own team security should the opposition try their luck going forward.

But Brazil aren't superhuman, apparently. So how exactly can other teams overcome this double pivot?

There are two ways, one of which is hoping for a bit of luck, i.e. hoping the Brazilians momentarily lose concentration, like they did when Gervinho and Drogba opened up the Selecao defence to score.

The other is just to hope the magical players can  provide the magic. A moment of magic skipping through the double pivot defensive wall on the counter-attack and Brazil could be left for dead.

All it takes is a Lionel Messi or a Wesley Sneijder to sprint past Gilberto and Melo , and it's a vulnerable Lucio and Juan in defence up against a plethora of opposition attackers.

But without those magic moments, head coach Dunga's double pivot has created a potent Brazilian force with the most potential now to go ahead and win the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Watch this space.