Brazil-Argentina Update: Dunga's Secret Formation

Much has been said about the upcoming Brazil- Argentina football classic.

Maradona has opted to move the match to Rosario instead of the usual Buenas Aires stadium.

Rosario is Messi's home town and also the place where a "church" of Maradona is located.

That's right I said "church"..... as Maradonism is actually a religion in certain corners of the world.

The stadium is smaller with the fans a mere five metres from the field which itself is also tiny by South American standards. The word is that the grass will be low cut and given a good sprinkle before just the match as well.

Apart form the fan pressure, the small fast field, home advantage and freezing temperatures, the Argentinians have also taken to talking up to the media before the match.

Messi says a win is the only result as does Maradona and Tevez says that he'll be having "Brazil" for dinner come Saturday.

Through all of this Dunga and all the Brazilian players have remained silent giving rise to speculation as to how this great world classic would play out.

The last time these two met in Rosario was in 1978 and it was quite a brawl with much violence and precious little football.

One could easily be lured into believing that Dunga with his defensive policy would fall for all the provocation.

Could he be leading Brazil to a virtual slug-fest on Saturday or are we in store for the match of the year?

This was the big question and this afternoon we got a peak at a possible answer.

The formation used this afternoon in Rio de Janeiro, to train, gives us the valuable clue.

Dunga has requested that the media not report on the training itself or broadcast any images ..but it won't hurt just to report on the composure of the first eleven.

In the back line there is a surprise as Miranda of Sao Paulo has replaced the older Juan of Roma starting alongside Lucio hinting at a possible need for speed.

The real surprise however comes in the midfield as both the former Cruzeiro sensation Ramires and Galatasaray's Elano have been put on the reserves team with Robinho joining Kaka in midfield.

So with Robinho, Kaka and Melo in midfield this is hardly a defensive team....but who's up front?

The obvious in form Luis Fabiano is to be joined by no other than the emperor of Rio de Janeiro, Flamengo top striker - Adriano.

So the Argentinians provoke while a silent Brazil puts together an extremely aggressive lineup showing little respect for los hermanos.

If indeed Dunga does maintain this formation the world could be in for a very entertaining game of football as Messi and company are anything but defensive themselves and are fired up.

By the way there's some history at stake here as well as in 1978 Brazil only managed a draw against Argentina, a draw which many say cost them the World Cup with one of the best generations.

Subsequent to the draw, Argentina progressed on goal difference due to a dubious result versus Peru and an undefeated Brazil bowed out.

Many have criticised the decision to play a heavier side in that clash thinking only of the draw and not playing certain more skillful players and trying for the win thus avoiding having to rely on other results.

Could it be that Dunga is thinking of setting things straight after all these years?