The five-time World Cup champions take to the pitch in their tournament opener, as Brazil looks to grab an early edge in Group G when it faces North Korea at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa (2:30 p.m., ESPN/ESPN3.com).
After seeing Portugal and the Ivory Coast play to a scoreless draw, the Selecao will look to burst out of the gates and overwhelm their opponent. With a more organized, less stylistic way of playing and a decorated cast that includes the likes of Kaka, Robinho, Luis Fabiano, Felipe Melo, Maicon and Lucio, the Brazilians are heavy favorites to lock down three points.
North Korea boasts a bunch of unknowns, but the overall lack of pedigree and 105 world ranking would suggest that the Asian squad is in for a rough night. Striker Jong Tae-se, the widely acclaimed "People's Wayne Rooney," will look to maintain his goal-scoring ways against a sound defensive unit.
If you are watching the game, please feel free to share any thoughts, opinions and play-by-play in the comments section below. Enjoy the match!
Attended the match at Ellis Park. A few thoughts. Kaka is so out of form, he would be afraid to dribble around the corner flag. 80 percent of his passes were negative. He kept floating from left to right and back again with the same tepid results.
Robinho was the best brazilian player by far. Maicon’s shot, seen live, looked like a great shot helped by a keeper mistake. On the replay: how do you defend talent like that?
If Juan is playing central D, Brazil is gonna give up more goals.
How good is Brazil if Melo and Gilberto are in the middle? One is average, the other old and sold.
Luis Fabiano isn’t the player he was last summer at the confed cup. Not even close.
Winter in South Africa begins at sundown each day.
And North Korea is going to take a point from either Ivory Coast or Portugal.
Wed is a public holiday in SA. The fan zones are gonna rock.
You guys are severely wrong. He hits it with the outside of his foot. You just don’t cross the ball like that. There is no chance it was a mishit. Lucky, maybe, but he did what he was trying to do.
More lie Joe Johnsonitis,that guy won’t pass the ball to save his life.
thats a joke right?
ooohhh.. gene was right on the money.
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I’m torn about cheering for N Korea: on the one hand, I hate to see their leaders win a propaganda victory. On the other, based on what we know about the NK regime, and the torture inflicted on Iraqi soccer players by Saddam’s sons, I’m pulling for NK’s players to do well if only to spare themselves and their families ugly consequences.
N.Korea surprised me they seem to be much much better than advertised. I was always up in the air whether D or G were the group of death. I thought D was even though all the media said it was G but now that we’ve seen N.Korea it might actually be G.
I didn’t understand that, if that was any USA defender they would have slid after that ball either as it was crossing or during the shot.
It was a nice pass though but the defender can’t be that complacent on a pass in the box, at least try to get it out of deflect it.
Unless you don’t count Germany vs Australia …
Yes, definitely a miss hit that just happen to catch the GK slightly out of place that was anticipating a ball coming across him.
Anyone thinking we can just roll over SLovenia needs to keep in mind how long it took Brazil to breakdown North Korea. There are no easy games at the world cup…
You mind picking a different name if you are going to be insulting people.
Great performance from North Korea. Well organized, disciplined, and heart. Jong Tae-Se is quality.
Only 2 minutes of stoppage is severely suspect. With four substitutions in the second half, that alone usually equals 2 minutes. Plus there was three goals in the second half, with two not so short celebrations by the Brazilians. Should have been 4 minutes, and surely, no less than 3.
omg gene..get over yourself
That was actually Jong Tae-se. I could see this guy getting one past Portugal or Ivory Coast. Good, organized defense from them today, too.
You were right, I bet that feels good.
Am I the only one concerned for Brazil? This lousy margin over NK puts them in a position where they almost have to beat IC on Sunday. Otherwise, they are sitting on 4 with a poor differential and will have to open it up to beat Portugal in game 3.
he celebrates every goal by kissing his fist, fyi.
The Slovenian team isn’t exactly humble. There was another member of the team saying how they were better than England and only lost 2-1 in Wembley because of a bogus penalty.
Guess beating 10-men squads (Russia, Algeria) can really beef up confidence. Howard’s not going to let in a howler like that either on Friday.
The Slovenian team needs a huge dose of humility – here’s hoping the US comes out and takes it to them on Friday.
Funny… but afraid it may be true… hahah
Of course there are always enough government subterfuge elements that the truth will get out to the masses in good time…
You have to wonder if the Dear Leader can swallow some pride and admit that a 1-2 result against the pinnacle team in the world is good enough for a moral victory…now it will be on to the conspiracy that they got put with the “3 best teams” in the tournament while USA, Japan and South Korea all got SOFT groups..
Glad I picked J. Tae Se as captain of my fantasy team…big performance today
Brazil wasn’t so impressive. But maybe they will rise to their competition when they play Ivory Coast and Portugal…