Good night's rest do the trick: Dunga

FIFA Confederations Cup
Brazil star Robinho arrives at a gym in Centurion on Friday.Photo: AFP

Spain may be the best team in the world but with the World Cup less than a year away Brazil, with Thursday's majestic 3-0 win over the United States, reminded the world that they can play a bit too.

And Robinho, author of one of the goals, delivered an ominous warning to Brazil's rivals at the Confederations Cup, the Manchester City striker declaring: "We played well but we want to play even better in the games ahead."

Coach Dunga must have felt like the cat who'd got the cream as he purred over a performance that oozed class in every department, from man of the match Maicon's darts up the right, to Kaka's midfield mastery and finishing that was smoother than Dulux.

Brazil, by their high standards, had something to prove after putting in a less than convincing second half performance against Egypt, who in toppling world champions Italy 1-0 are now favourites to take second place in Group B behind the defending champions.

"We didn't play well in the second half in our last match," conceded Kaka, "but today we showed our real form."

Dunga put his side's refound vigour down to nothing more than a good night's kip.

"What changed (between Egypt and the US) was a lack of tiredness.

"Against Egypt we were exhausted having had no rest and having just arrived in South Africa. Today they had time to rest and their bodies had adapted to the different time zone.

"I used some players like Maicon and Miranda who hadn't been playing for some time that made life easier for everyone else. The new players in the side did brilliantly...I have no complaints."

Four of Brazil's seven goals at the Confed Cup have come from set pieces, with Dunga acknowledging: "Yes that's something we go over, we try and place the players in the best positions.

"We moved the ball around quickly as well which of course is a characteristic of South American football."

Maicon proved the backbone of Brazil's attacks up the right flank, but Dunga denied the left side was any weaker.

"The left side is also strong, but Robinho is more of an individual type of player so sometimes it's better for the left side to protect rather than move forward like the right."

Aside from Maicon other players to shine in the Pretoria winter sunshine were Ramires, Real Madrid's million dollar baby Kaka, and Felipe Melo who headed in Maicon's freekick for the opener.

Robinho said it had been important for Brazil to play well against the US after starting the defence of their Confed Cup crown "with a bit of a bump".

Italy's loss to the Pharoahs has taken some of the edge off Saturday's encounter between two countries who between them boast nine World Cups.

Nevertheless it will still be a match to savour with Dunga suggesting: "They are two great teams. When Brazil face Italy you never know what's going to happen.

"It's the kind of game where the side that scores first has a big advantage."

Asked about any tinkering he might consider for Saturday's final group game the Brazil boss replied: "We'll see after medical check-ups which players have recovered and change the team accordingly. If we have to make changes we will."