No room for Ronaldinho?

One banner said it all at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening. Brazil may be reigning Confederations Cup and Copa America champions under their current coach, but for some it is not quite enough. "Dunga: Where are Ronaldinho and Pato?" read the cardboard plea held aloft at every given opportunity.


Has Dunga blown the whistle on Ronaldinho's World Cup hopes?
Pato's nonattendance could at least be explained in part by a number of fitness problems this season - the latest of which could see him miss the second leg of the Champions League tie between AC Milan and Manchester United - but the absence of his club colleague, a two-time World Player of the Year, remains a puzzle.

True, in the second half Brazil produced a stylish performance in a stadium they have made their second home in recent years, with Robinho - a different player to the one that flitted in and out of games at Manchester City - at his effervescent best when putting the finishing touch to a glorious passing move for the second goal. Indeed, he excelled in a similar position to that filled by Ronaldinho in Milan.

But in the first 45 minutes, Brazil looked relatively ordinary as they struggled to break down a defensive line marshalled by Paul McShane and Sean St Ledger. It required a dubious opening goal, with Robinho appearing offside before his cross struck Keith Andrews and dribbled across the line, to give them the lead. Benfica's Ramires was asked to play in an advanced role alongside Kaka and failed to provide the invention or industry to match that of his more illustrious colleague. It was not a vintage Brazil side, but one that would have been enlivened by the presence of a certain buck-toothed genius.

Dunga was steadfast in his refusal to call on Ronaldinho - who made eight appearances in qualifying and won the World Cup in 2002 - when speaking after the match. "Pele was once the best player in the world," Dunga said. "I played once as well. Players come and players go. We have the team decided but we need certain things defined." Some are less convinced of the policy though, with Ireland's Liam Lawrence telling this column: "I think you would always benefit from having someone like him in the side to be honest. I suppose it is up to Dunga to pick his teams and he does what he wants." Unfortunately for Ronaldinho, and a portion of Brazilian fans, he certainly does.


By Tom Adams