Brazil have progressed to the last 16 of the World Cup, but their passage bore the scars of discord and theatricality rather than elegance. What should have been a routine showcase of their technical prowess devolved into a fractious encounter, punctuated by exaggerated reactions and contentious officiating. The game’s turning point came late: in the 88th minute, Kaká, Brazil’s emblematic playmaker, was dismissed with a second yellow card by referee Stéphane Lannoy, following a dubious confrontation with Ivory Coast’s Kader Keita.
Kaká’s raised elbow—arguably a reflexive act of self-preservation—was interpreted as aggression. "He pushed him," said Ivory Coast manager Sven-Göran Eriksson, cautiously distancing himself from certainty. "How hard he hit him I don't know. It didn't look too bad." Yet Eriksson saw balance in the chaos. Brazil, he reminded, had profited earlier when Luís Fabiano’s second goal, featuring two blatant handballs, was allowed to stand. “It’s hard to cope with Fabiano,” he conceded, “particularly when he handles the ball twice.”
Dunga, Brazil’s stoic and combative manager, offered no such detachment. "The player who commits the foul escapes the yellow card," he fumed. "I have to congratulate him for that. It was totally unjustified. Kaká was fouled, and yet he was punished." In Dunga’s eyes, justice had been turned on its head.
Indeed, the spectacle would have tried the patience of all but the most hardened connoisseurs of gamesmanship. Brazil, superior in every technical department, allowed themselves to be dragged into a mire of provocation and protest. Even after Didier Drogba’s late header narrowed the margin in the 79th minute, there was little sense of jeopardy. Brazil should have let the contest fade quietly. Instead, they stoked the embers.
The injury to Elano, one of Brazil’s standout performers, further soured the evening. A reckless challenge by Cheick Tioté left the former Manchester City midfielder stretchered off with an ankle injury, and with him departed much of Brazil’s fluency.
Yet, for all the distractions, Brazil’s control was never in real doubt. Their authority—deeply rooted in discipline, preparation, and a more pragmatic evolution of their footballing tradition—was on display long enough to secure victory. The romantic notion that Brazil must entertain, however persistent, often veers toward the condescending. What they truly represent is excellence in craft, honed through relentless schooling.
Dunga, an exemplar of this ethos, has shaped a team more focused on resilience than revelry. That Brazil scored twice in their opening match was expected; that North Korea responded with a late goal was not. Dunga, however, did not flinch. He kept faith with his starting XI for this clash at Soccer City, emphasizing continuity over experimentation
And his side delivered early. Fabiano’s 25th-minute strike, the culmination of slick interplay and a razor-sharp finish at the near post, ended a nine-month goal drought and set the tone. Brazil grew in cohesion thereafter, while Ivory Coast remained fitful, their inconsistency a disappointment to tournament organizers who had hoped for a strong African challenge.
Fabiano's second goal, however, introduced farce to the narrative. His dribbling—mesmerizing in isolation—was abetted by illicit touches of the hand. The goal stood, to the indignation of Eriksson and his players. Brazil, though, were largely unbothered, exploiting a porous Ivorian defense with increasing ease. In the 62nd minute, Kaká—unmarked and composed—set up Elano for his second goal of the tournament. It was a moment of grace amid the mounting discord.
Elano's subsequent injury, however, was emblematic of a match that refused to retain its rhythm. His exit heralded a steep decline in tempo and quality. With physicality now dominating the storyline, artistry receded into the shadows.
Despite the darker tones that tinged this match, Brazil left the field having reaffirmed their status as contenders. They showed glimpses of their capacity to not only withstand adversity but to rise above it—though on this occasion, they chose instead to meet it head-on. For all the frayed edges and flaring tempers, there remains little doubt: this Brazilian side has both the grit and the flair to shape the narrative of this World Cup.
Thank You
Faisal Caesaar
