Dunga starting on right foot

After a 1-1 draw in his debut against Norway, coach Dunga's new Brazilian National Team had a great Sunday in London against Argentina. Not only because of the result, which was great nevertheless. But more because of the way the team played, rescuing a disposition and style that seemed irrevocably lost after the fiasco shown by the Brazilians during the World Cup in Germany. Contrary to that side coached by Carlos Alberto Parreira, this new Dunga side seems to know that wearing the mythical yellow shirt carries a certain amount of responsibility and pride.

Brazil played well, but so did Argentina. The difference was the clinical finish of Elano, who took advantage of two chances presented to him - one early in the game, the other in the second half. Robinho played very well, reliving the partnership with the same Elano from Santos' winning team of 2002. Lucio was again solid, and Kaka entered the game in the second half showing he definitely merits a place in the starting eleven. Slowly those players that show the new coach they care about the team have a better chance of sticking in the squads that are to be called from here on.

In a poor decision by everyone involved, Brazil returns to the pitch this Tuesday, just 48 hours after the Argentina match, to face Wales. Dunga knows there wasn't enough time to rest his team, and so he'll start with a different eleven, counting on the return of Ronaldinho Gaucho to keep his unbeaten record ahead of the team. The result again is not what matters so much. Rather, everyone will again be interested to see if the new Dunga style is here to stay or was just a fluke allowed by an opposition that played and allowed the other team to play as much as the Brazilians like to do themselves.