Brazil`s players eager to get World Cup under way

Johannesburg: Brazil`s players are having a hard time waiting for their turn to debut at the World Cup.

The opener against North Korea is still three days away, and the Brazilians are eager to get on the pitch. "We know we are ready," Brazil left back Michel Bastos said yesterday. "If the match was today or tomorrow, we would be prepared. We`ve been preparing for a long time for this." Seeking its sixth world title, Brazil was one of the first teams to arrive in South Africa and has been practicing in the country for more than two weeks. The team will debut on Tuesday against North Korea at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. "There is a lot of anxiety," Brazil midfielder Felipe Melo said. "We have to admit there is a lot of anxiety. And it`s growing. I wish we could have played yesterday." The World Cup began Friday with two matches - host South Africa drawing Mexico 1-1 and France drawing Uruguay 0-0. Brazil arrives as one of the favorites to win the first ever tournament in Africa after impressive results with coach Dunga despite a team lacking players such as Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Adriano. Brazil won the Confederations Cup last year and finished first in South American World Cup qualifying. It also did well in high-profile friendlies against England, Italy, Portugal and Argentina. "The team is ready, but there is still some time left so we can adjust whatever may be needed to adjust," Michel Bastos said. "There may be a few things here and there, but we know we are prepared." There are only three practice sessions scheduled before Brazil`s opener. Dunga closed yesterday`s afternoon practice, marking only the second time that the coach kept the media from attending the team`s training. Brazil played only two warmup matches after arriving in South Africa, picking lowly teams from the region. It defeated 110th-ranked Zimbabwe 3-0 in Harare and routed 108th-ranked Tanzania 5-1 in Dar es Salaam. Dunga has not officially announced Brazil`s starting lineup for the match against North Korea, but he has practiced with the same 11 since the team arrived in South Africa and there shouldn`t be any surprises for the opener. Brazil will then face the Ivory Coast on June 20, also in Johannesburg, and then will close play in the tough Group G against Portugal on June 25 in Durban. The Brazilians acknowledge that they still know very little about the team`s first opponent, the North Koreans. "It`s hard to find anything about them," Felipe Melo said. "But I`m sure the coaches are already preparing a video on them for us." With the World Cup under way, at least players are having an easier time overcoming their anxiety. "We are doing whatever we can to help the time pass," Michel Bastos said. "Now we can at least watch some of the matches, it helps." Bureau Report