A World Cup without Ronaldinho

A World Cup without Ronaldinho

His mom and dad know him as Carlos Caetano Bledorn Verri. Most everyone else knows him simply as Dunga, the Brazilian national team football coach. Like many other Brazilian's his nickname has just become his name. Call him what you want, but don’t call Dunga a softy. The guy sticks to his convictions.

If you heard the news this week that Ronaldinho Gaucho – two-time FIFA world player of the year – was not invited to play in the 2010 World Cup and you still can’t believe it, you can blame Dunga.

The Brazilian coach had been under enormous pressure for weeks in the run up to the selection of his team for South Africa. There was rampant speculation he was going to do the unthinkable not invite Ronaldindo to the 23 man squad, but few people could really believe it until it actually happened. (Ronaldinho was put on the 7 player emergency reserve list, but the chances of him being called up is slim).

Dunga also didn’t invite Adriano, who led Flamengo in goals on the way to the Brazilian championship last season. Between Ronaldinho and Adriano, the pair had 139 national team appearances under their belt and are two of the biggest names in Brazilian football in recent memory.

Dunga had been hinting in the weeks leading up to the selection that he wanted team players, fully committed to the mission, with a passion for the game. Hint: He would not tolerate (or invite on the team) superstars who were not fully committed to playing his style of football.  Ronaldinho and Adriano didn’t fit the bill, at least in the eyes of Dunga.

Adriano in recent months has struggled with off-the-pitch distractions that left Dunga unconvinced he now has the razor sharp focus needed for a World Cup. And Dunga felt he didn’t owe anything to Ronaldinho – despite his past accomplishments. You got the sense Ronaldinho was daring Dunga not to select him. Dunga called his bluff. 

But the Brazilian coach not only decided to brush off two of Brazil’s biggest football names, he also (surprisingly to many) did not invite Neymar to the team. If you don’t live in Brazil, you probably have no clue who Neymar is, but you will by 2014. He is the 17 year old superstar for Santos, a teenager who has been compared to Pele. Here’s a stat for you: He has 39 goals in 79 games. He will be a star. Correction: He is a star. I dare you to watch this You Tube clip and tell me otherwise. Put "Neymar" in a You Tube search and watch the show. 

Despite pressure from the likes of Ronaldo and Robinho to select to Neymar, he was left off the team, Dunga saying the kid didn’t have enough big-game, international playing experience yet.

Bottom line: Dunga likes to win or lose with his guys. He wants experienced players but also players he feels are 100% committed to team, rather than self. For Dunga, Neymar didn't measure up in the experience category. Adriano and Ronaldinho in the other category.

Dunga is taking his guys to South Africa, and in the process he has officially switched off the lights on World Cup careers of two of Brazil’s most famous stars. But he might have turned on the lights on other careers. 

Instead of picking Adriano, Dunga selected a guy to the team named Grafite. Most Brazilians were left wondering, “Who the heck is Grafite?” He is apparently a big star in Germany for Wolfsburg, but hardly a household name even in Brazil where he only has 3 national team appearances.

It’s hard to argue with Dunga’s decisions because the man the one thing that really matters on his side: Victories. In 53 games coaching the national team, he has won 37, tied in 11, and only lost 5. He has coached the national team to two titles (Copa America and Confederations Cup).

And before you start feeling too bad for Brazil, just remember the team will still have stars in South Africa. Names like Kaka, Julio Cesar, Robinho and steady workhorses like Daniel Alves, Luis Fabiano and Lucio.

And when things look uncertain in Brazil football-land, all one needs to do is look next door at Argentina for comfort that it can get worse. 

But if the Brazilians fail in South Africa (and failure is measured by anything other than winning it all), none of that will matter. Call him what you will, but Dunga is a man who didn’t bow under pressure.

This is his team in South Africa. That much is now very, very clear.

Deadlines missed

While we’re on the subject of World Cup - and while the focus is on South Africa - the obvious question is, “How are preparations going for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil?” Answer: It’s early, but so far not so good.

Brazil has already missed the second deadline for the start of construction benchmarks and according to FIFA none of the 12 host cities are ‘on schedule.’

Less than half the host cities have started construction at all.

Rio de Janeiro is particularly lagging behind, as the most important renovation work on Maracana stadium has not begun.

Hotels have reported trouble getting financing to expand room capacity, which was one of the main drawbacks of the Rio selection.

The Minister of Sports disclosed a report last month which laid out the impact the World Cup will have on Brazil. Some highlights: Tourism for the 2014 World Cup is expected to bring in about $5 billion and generate 710,000 jobs (330,000 permanent, 380,000 temporary).

There will be over $20 billion in investment in infrastructure and tourism industries and indirect investment expected to total about $65 billion or more. And the effect on Brazil’s GDP through 2019 could be over $65 billion as well, through investments, consumption and tourism that will continue in the years after the 2014 World Cup.