Brazil will take to the field at London’s Emirates Stadium against Ireland Tuesday with the likes of Felipe Melo and Gilberto Silva in its squad. But Coach Dunga had no room for 2002 World Cup champion Ronaldinho, who is enjoying an excellentseason at AC Milan.
“I guess it’s normal [for Ronaldinho’s exit to cause controversy] because the players who are absent are always the best and everyone wants to talk about who is notpart of the national team,” Dunga said. “None of this is new on the eve of a World Cup. The questions and answers continue to be the same. The pressure on the coach of the Selecao is always verystrong. Every region and newspaper would like to impose their own players, but I will go forward in my own way.”
The Emirates Stadium is a home away from home for Brazil. A crowd of closeto 60,000 is expected at the Arsenal stadium — both Arsenal and Brazil are sponsored by Nike — for the fifth Brazil international at the venue following matches against Italy, Sweden, Portugal andArgentina.