Kaka - England are a threat

Brazilian ace expecting big things from Three Lions

Last updated: 12th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Kaka - England are a threat

Kaka: Wary of England

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Brazilian star Kaka insists that England will be pushing for World Cup glory in South Africa.

Kaka is gearing up to lead Brazil against The Three Lions in Qatar on Saturday.

The Real Madrid star is looking forward to facing England, who he holds in a very high regard, and admits that Fabio Capello has transformed them.

"It's not to say England weren't a dangerous team before, but there is something different now. They look much sharper collectively, like Mr Capello's sides are known to be," he told The Guardian.

"England have always had individually strong players and I am a huge fan of Stevie Gerrard, who has the heart of a lion and is the icon of the modern footballer with his ability to attack and defend so well.

"But what seems to have changed is the arrival of a better collective awareness.

"The players look much more aware with regards to movements and positioning. The attitude is also stronger.

"They are definitely one of the teams to consider for the trophy in South Africa.

"The World Cup is a competition in which everything needs to work to your advantage. Players need to be fit, decisions have to go in your favour and details such as a red card can cost a team dearly.

"I have no doubts that England can do it. As much as the Doha game will award no points, it can work as a massive confidence boost when you beat an opponent also tipped to prevail next year."

Brazil ready

Kaka is happy with how Brazil's preparations have been going.

"We have a new cycle and it took us time to gel," Kaka explains.

"The guys want to leave a much better impression than in Germany in 2006 [when Brazil lost in the quarter-finals to France].

"There are a lot of new guys in the side and the motivation is much different from four years ago.

"People have to understand generations come and go. A whole era ended in 2006 but I don't really think the lads were unaware of what was at stake in Germany. But I agree that a lot of players in the current squad have more reason to be hungry for World Cup success."

Kaka, who joined Real Madrid in the summer in a then world record deal from AC Milan, admits media expectations have caused needless unrest around the club.

"The media and public created the idealisation that you would immediately reap the benefits of all the signings, mine and Cristiano's included, while the people who live football know that it takes time to get things going," he said.

"Expectations will always be high and obviously it is not normal for Real to be hammered by a lower league team [they were knocked out of the Copa del Rey by third division Alcorcon this week, after losing the first leg 4-0].

"But to expect us to win all games 4-0 or start talking about a crisis and sacking the manager [Manuel Pellegrini] when we are only one point behind Barcelona in La Liga and joint-top with Milan in our Champions League group is a bit ludicrous.

"We are full of experienced guys who know how football works. We know what we are doing and how the gelling of the group will make things easier.

"Obviously if we end the year without a trophy people will be right in talking about failure and a bad year, but I have the feeling people will be talking differently about us soon."

One real positive for Kaka at Real, has been the introduction of Xabi Alonso from Liverpool.

"As soon as the rumours started about Real signing him from Liverpool, I hoped Xabi was going to come," said Kaka.

"I have admired him for a few years and he impressed me by the way he operates in setting the pace of the game and in his distribution. He is extremely important for the team and I am quite happy Liverpool let him come to us."