Brazil, five times world champion, and Italy, crowned in 2006, compete in a prestigious friendly match in London. If the stars are on the menu, this poster will also be an opportunity to gauge the selectors of both teams, Dunga and Marcello Lippi.

The balance of confrontation presents a nice balance: five wins each and 19 goals scored on both sides. And two draws, the last two matches to date: 3-3 in friendly in 1997 and 0-0 in the finals of the World 1994 (victory auriverde to kick). At the Emirates Stadium, both selections will display in any case an explosive arsenal: Ronaldinho is back five months after its last cape, with Robinho, Adriano and Pato, while Buffon, Pirlo and Camoranesi found the blue jersey.

Some wounded brand missed the call, however, like Kaka, who was shot Saturday at a foot, Chiellini and Gattuso. Lippi has rejected Del Piero, ensuring he knew enough, and Cassano, too irregular. “It’s an important game, obviously. I’ve never played against a Brazilian team, either the selection or a club,” noted the Italian breeder, who warned that this was “not a meeting to conduct experiments. ”

Pressure on Dunga

He who led the Azzurri to their 4th world title in Berlin in 2006 will also seek to bring his record of consecutive games without defeat in 32 meetings. But the Italians showed some reduction in movement speed, which is about zero in Bulgaria (0-0) and Greece (1-1) … Dunga has more pressure: the captain of the 1994 world champions still has not convinced his countrymen as a breeder since 2006. They accuse the game boring. As proof, the last two home matches of Brazil in qualifying for World Cup-2010, two 0-0 against Bolivia and Colombia.

The Seleção remains a flamboyant 6-2 against Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo in friendly. The London visit will show if it were an accident or the beginning of a turn. “This is one of the most important matches I ever played for my country, noted Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar of Inter Milan. And it would be nice to win, because some of us will return to the same aircraft as the Italians … ”

Brazilian selection

Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), Doni (AS Roma)

Defenders: Maicon (Inter Milan), Daniel Alves (FC Barcelona), Lucio (Bayern Munich), Juan (AS Roma), Thiago Silva (AC Milan), Luisao (Benfica), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Adriano Correia (Sevilla FC ).

Midfielders: Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos), Josue (Wolfsburg), Felipe Melo (Fiorentina), Elano (Manchester City), Julio Baptista (AS Roma), Ronaldinho (AC Milan), Kaka (AC Milan).

Forwards: Alexandre Pato (AC Milan), Adriano (Inter Milan), Robinho (Manchester City).

Italian Selection

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Marco Amelia (Palermo), Morgan De Sanctis (Galatasaray)

Defenders: Daniele Bonera (AC Milan), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Andrea Dossena (Liverpool), Alessandro Gamberini (Fiorentina), Fabio Grosso (Lyon), Nicola Legrottaglie (Juventus), Gianluca Zambrotta (AC Milan)

Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani (AS Roma), Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Simone Pepe (Udinese), Simone Perrotta (AS Roma), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan)

Forwards: Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese), Giuseppe Rossi (Villareal), Luca Toni (Bayern Munich)