A round-up of today's other World Cup news in brief
Dunga under pressure as Brazil struggle
AFTER impressive wins over two of Europes most powerful teams, Brazil had more trouble with the neighbours as they were held 1-1 by Ecuador in Sunday’s 2010 World Cup qualifier.
Dunga’s team, who thrashed Portugal 6-2 in November and outclassed Italy in a 2-0 win in February, have struggled against much less prestigious opposition from their own backyard.
They have drawn six of their 11 World Cup qualifiers, including 0-0 draws home and away to Colombia, a 1-1 draw in Peru and a 0-0 draw at home to Bolivia.
Brazil also lost 2-0 away to Paraguay where, as on Sunday in Quito, they were hopelessly outplayed.
The only team to have played at every World Cup, Brazil have slipped to fourth in the 10-team South American group with 18 points from 11 games.
Paraguay lead with 23, followed by Argentina and Chile on 19 while Uruguay are fifth with 16.
The top four qualify directly for South Africa while the fifth team plays off against the fourth side from the Concacaf region.
Only two points clear of fifth spot, Brazil are now in danger of having to put their unique record on the line in a two-leg play-off against opponents which could potentially include Mexico.
Dunga has blamed travelling, altitude and the hostile environment at away games for his teams problems in South America.
After Sundays game, he told Brazilian media: “The result was normal.”
His critics, however, are not impressed by Dungas arguments that he did not have time to train the team.
Fernando Calazans, writing for the Globo newspaper before the game, said Brazil had become over-dependent on their big names such as Kaka, who missed the match with a foot injury, and Ronaldinho, who barely touched the ball before being substituted.
Ramsey set for full debut
WALES’ new golden boy Aaron Ramsey is expected to make his full debut for his country against the might of Germany in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.
Tomorrow’s game will see the 18 year-old – who has yet to start a Premier League match at Arsenal – win his fourth cap, and his first from kick-off.
“I have not actually been told I am playing yet, I am just trying hard to impress the manager in training,” he said.
Butcher urges Scotland to be ‘cuter’ after hard lesson
TERRY BUTCHER has told Scotland they must be “cuter” in their vital World Cup qualifier against Iceland after being taught a hard footballing lesson by the Netherlands.
The assistant manager has no plans to encourage his players to resort to gamesmanship but admits they must learn to be more streetwise in the wake of a 3-0 defeat in the Amsterdam Arena.
Holland’s second goal, in particular, has come under scrutiny after goalkeeper Allan McGregor found himself blocked on his line, allowing Robin van Persie plenty of room to find the net on the stroke of half-time.
Butcher insists Scotland must now follow the example of the Dutch and ensure they run the show at Hampden tomorrow.
“The Dutch are pretty cute, as you would expect top players to be,” he said. “You need to have that awareness about you as well and we will need that on Wednesday.
“Set-pieces could prove to be vital and they certainly were when we beat Iceland 2-1. Hopefully we can be switched on even more now. We have to be cute, we have to give ourselves the best possible chance of winning matches.
“That doesn’t mean diving or those kind of things, it means doing the things that are necessary to win games. We have to be as cute, if not cuter, than the opposition.
“When you play at international level, you have to make sure that things go your way in terms of big decisions, opening goals, set-pieces.”
Fifa investigate Windsor incident
FIFA have launched an investigation into the incident at Windsor Park on Saturday when assistant referee Stefan Wittberg was hit by a coin.
World football’s governing body are deciding whether to take disciplinary action after Wittberg needed treatment for a head wound during Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against Poland. The Swedish official was struck in the first half of the home side’s 3-2 victory. The individual concerned was identified and ejected from the ground at half-time.
A Fifa spokesman said: “Fifa are currently reviewing an incident in the World Cup qualifier between Northern Ireland and Poland on Saturday, where a Swedish assistant referee was hit by a coin.
“FIFA has received a report from the match referee (Martin Hansson) as well as the match commissioner.
“Following a review of those two respective reports, Fifa will then decide on whether any disciplinary procedures will be opened.”
The IFA condemned the behaviour of the supporter. “What happened was totally unacceptable,” said a spokesman. “The individual was identified and evicted from the stadium at half-time. Appropriate action will now be taken.”
