South Africa have promised to take the game to Brazil on Thursday when they meet the five-time world champions in a Confederations Cup semifinal in Johannesburg.
Coach Joel Santana, criticised for a cautious approach in the hosts’ opening three games, said he would look to attack against the highly fancied Brazilians, who are defending the title they won in Germany four years ago.
”You cannot just sit back and defend for 90 minutes against Brazil. How can I tell my players to do that? How can I tell the supporters we will just defend? We may lose, that is possible, but we will lose having given our all and taken our best attacking efforts to Brazil,” he told reporters.
The match pits Santana against Brazil coach Dunga, once his player when Santana coached Vasco da Gama in 1987.
”You cannot say South Africa will be an easy opponent. They are in the semifinals and they must be respected,” Dunga said on the eve of the match at Ellis Park.
The winner will meet the United States, who beat European champions Spain 2-0 in Wednesday’s first semifinal in Bloemfontein.
The final is at Ellis Park on Sunday (1830 GMT). — Reuters