Brazilians know Italy well ahead of decisive match

CENTURION, South Africa (AP) - With several of its players in Italian football, Brazil feels it knows what to expect from Italy in the teams' decisive Confederations Cup match on Sunday.

Not counting Kaka, who has just moved from AC Milan to Real Madrid, Brazil has six members of its squad playing in the Italian league - Julio Cesar and Maicon with Inter Milan, Juan and Julio Baptista with AS Roma, Felipe Melo with Fiorentina and Alexandre Pato with AC Milan.

"The fact that some players play in Italy makes this match much more special," Julio Cesar said Saturday.

Brazil faces Italy on Sunday in a Group B match that could send one of the teams home from the Confederations Cup. Italy needs a victory by two goals to secure a spot in the semifinals without depending on other results, while a draw will be enough for Brazil.

With so many players on the inside, the Brazilians don't expect surprises at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.

"We know how they play," Felipe Melo said. "The Italian players are used to winning titles, they are world champions, have a lot of experience and confidence. Italian football relies a lot on strength and contact, but today the Brazilians are used to that."

Of the six Brazilians playing in Italian clubs, Felipe Melo, Julio Cesar, Maicon and Juan are expected to start in Dunga's team on Sunday. Pato and Julio Baptista should begin the match on the bench.

Dunga also has strong connections with Italy, where he played from 1987-1993 with Pisa, Fiorentina and Pescara.

"Each nation has its own school, the difference is the characteristics of the players," Dunga said. "Italy is used to decisive matches and it always relies on its own characteristics, taking advantage of the opponent's mistakes and playing very tight (in defense)."

Dunga dismisses any thoughts that Brazil has acquired an Italian style of play with so many Brazilians playing in Italian clubs.

"My team has a Brazilian characteristic," Dunga said. "But it plays competitive football. When we don't have the ball we defend, when we do have the ball we move forward to try to score."

After six years with AC Milan, Kaka said he is a better player thanks to his time in Italian football.

"I learned a lot in Italy, especially about tactics," Kaka said. "I learned how to move around the field, how to understand the match better from inside. I picked up the characteristics from (Italian) style, and I'm happy for that."

Julio Cesar also thanks Italian football for being considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world at the moment.

"After I arrived in Italy I matured a lot as a goalkeeper, and that's important in my position," Julio Cesar said. "The Italy school is very good."

Five-time world champion Brazil and four-time world champion Italy have faced each other 13 times, with Brazil winning six matches, losing five and drawing two. The Italians haven't beaten Brazil since the second round of the 1982 World Cup in Spain, and the last encounter was a 2-0 Brazil win in a friendly in London in February.

Sunday's match will take place on the same date as the 1970 World Cup final in which the Brazilians - led by Pele - won 4-1. "We hope we can beat Italy again on Sunday and dedicate the win to the players from the 1970 World Cup, they deserve it," Maicon said.