Dunga promises big improvement

Brazil coach Dunga, whose side lost 2-0 to Paraguay in Sunday's World Cup qualifier, has promised a big improvement from his team when they face Argentina tomorrow (2.50 a.m. Malta time).

Dunga was criticised for his team's negative approach and the players for their performances in Asuncion, where Brazil were soundly beaten despite facing ten men for much of the second half.

"We will certainly play a lot better against Argentina than we did against Paraguay," said the coach during a tense news conference.

"I know the personality of these players and the way they play."

The media in Brazil was furious over the team's poor showing against Paraguay.

Headlines such as "Disgrace" and "Another embarrassment for coach Dunga's team" greeted the side as they returned home.

"It's the first time in football history that Brazil have played defensively against Paraguay and Paraguay have gone out and attacked Brazil," wrote Fernando Calazans, a columnist in the daily newspaper O Globo.

"We've reached the point where we take on Paraguay as if we were the small team and they the big team, the world champions.

"(Brazilian) football is becoming more and more defensive and increasingly based on marking," he added.

Meanwhile, Dunga, missing Kaka and Ronaldinho because of fitness problems, hinted that he would avoid making wholesale changes for their next match.

"We've played with this midfield before, we've won and we've lost. Sometimes, a change in attitude is better than a change of player. We're not going to change our entire way of working because of one game."

Brazil have taken eight points from five games in the South American qualifying group and are fourth in the table, behind Paraguay, Argentina and Colombia.

They have won their last three games against Argentina by three-goal margins.