Olympics harder than World Cup: Brazil's Dunga
Tuesday, 29 July 2008
SINGAPORE, July 28 (AFP): Securing a first Olympic title will be a tougher job than the World Cup, Brazil's coach Dunga said Sunday, and insisted his young team was up to the task of football gold at the Beijing Games.
While Brazil have held the World Cup five times they have never won at the Olympics, but Dunga said his squad -- including Ronaldinho -- were coping well with the weight of expectation.
"To win (an) Olympic medal is a bit harder because we don't have much time to prepare," he told reporters in Singapore ahead of an exhibition match here Monday.
"With respect to the World Cup, we have four years to prepare for it... in Olympic Games normally we have 15 days and players are coming back from holidays, from other competition," he said.
The Brazilian team, including two-time World Player of the Year Ronaldinho, 18-year-old AC Milan sensation Alexandre Pato, and Manche-ster United's Anderson, have been going through drills and tactics since arriving last week.
While Brazil have held the World Cup five times they have never won at the Olympics, but Dunga said his squad -- including Ronaldinho -- were coping well with the weight of expectation.
"To win (an) Olympic medal is a bit harder because we don't have much time to prepare," he told reporters in Singapore ahead of an exhibition match here Monday.
"With respect to the World Cup, we have four years to prepare for it... in Olympic Games normally we have 15 days and players are coming back from holidays, from other competition," he said.
The Brazilian team, including two-time World Player of the Year Ronaldinho, 18-year-old AC Milan sensation Alexandre Pato, and Manche-ster United's Anderson, have been going through drills and tactics since arriving last week.