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Sunday October 11, 2009

Coach Dunga looks for best line-up for altitude in Bolivia

RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazil will field a team of players who best cope with high altitude for today’s World Cup qualifier against Bolivia in La Paz, coach Dunga said.

Dunga has not yet named his starting line-up but hinted he would spare players like captain Gilberto Silva, playmaker Kaka and top scorer Luis Fabiano the rarefied atmosphere at the Hernando Siles Stadium, 3,600m above sea level.

Lucio, Juan and Robinho, who are all nursing muscle strains are also likely to miss the match.

“Those who have most resistance will play,” said Dunga at Brazil’s Granja Comary training base in Teresopolis.

“We have 22 first-choice players in this squad. There are no first-choice players and reserves.

“We’ll talk to the players tonight to settle on the team ... we’ll change two or three (players) without changing the characteristics of the team.”

Brazil, top of the South American group with two games to go, have already qualified while Bolivia, one from bottom, are out of the running.

The Brazilians, held 0-0 by Bolivia in their home match in Rio de Janeiro when they were jeered by their own fans and Dunga was criticised, attempted to get today’s return match moved to lower altitude but the Bolivians refused.

“No-one likes to be jeered or called a donkey but now the match is different. They’re going to have to come out a bit. We have to take advantage of the spaces and shoot from long distance,” Dunga said.

Dunga is already looking ahead to his squad for next year’s World Cup Finals in South Africa with another test for Barcelona fullback Daniel Alves, who stood out in their last qualifier, a 4-2 home win over Chile.

“His characteristics help him to play at altitude,” said Dunga, adding that Alves made a good pairing on the right flank with Maicon. — Reuters

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