South Africa coach faces team he knows well

JOHANNESBURG (AP) - South Africa coach Joel Santana hopes his knowledge of Brazil's national football team will come in handy when Bafana Bafana faces the five-time world champions Thursday in the Confederations Cup semifinals.

The Brazilian is more than familiar with South Africa's opponent, and said he is thrilled with the chance to face his countrymen in such a high-profile match.

"This moment is historic for me," Santana said. "I know some of the players of the Brazilian national team, but there is no doubt that the feeling is to go out there and try to earn a positive result for my team."

He said that beating Brazil would feel like winning a championship.

"It's an extremely important match. It would be like winning a title," Santana said. "Advancing to the second stage was one title, and beating Brazil would be the second title. The final would be the third title."

He tried to make it clear that he will remain "extremely professional" and that his close connection with the Brazilians will not interfere in his work on Thursday.

"South Africa is a country that is giving me an opportunity, for the first time in 30 years, to be coaching a team at the Confederations Cup and eventually in the World Cup. I'm very thankful."

Just a year ago, Santana was in Brazil near some of the players who will be on the opposite side on Thursday. He was coaching Flamengo before accepting the offer to replace Carlos Alberto Parreira at the helm of South Africa.

Santana coached Brazil manager Dunga and assistant coach Jorginho when they were players. He coached Dunga at Vasco da Gama in 1987, and Jorginho in 2000 and 2001, also at Vasco.

"They won titles with me in the past," Santana said. "So they know what they can expect."

Santana, on the other hand, doesn't foresee any surprises coming from the Brazilians.

"I know them. Everybody knows them," said Santana, who has also coached Fluminense, Internacional, Corinthians and Botafogo. "They've been together for three years now."

The coach met with Brazilian players just before Brazil's practice at Ellis Park on Wednesday, spending time with Robinho, Gomes, Julio Baptista and Julio Cesar.

"He's a great coach, we all know that," Robinho said. "It's going to be great to face him."

Santana has been criticized in South Africa for fielding three defensive midfielders in his lineup, but he had an answer Thursday.

"So you're not satisfied that we made the semifinals? That we scored and we got four points?" Santana said. "Football is related to productivity. We are going to play which players we think should be there. This is how football is played.

"Our football players have managed to qualify for the semifinals and if you're not satisfied with that I don't know what you'd be satisfied with."

Since Santana arrived to coach South Africa about a year ago, he has often faced critics for his defensive tactics, but he hinted that he will send his players on the attack against Brazil.

"We are not going to stay in our own area waiting to see what will happen," Santana said. "It's not worth shooting the ball from our area into the Brazil area. What are we going to say to our supporters if we defend for 90 minutes?"