Brazil coach Dunga defended his players on Thursday after their complaints about the World Cup ball were criticised by Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke.
Valcke suggested two days ago that the Brazilians were using the ball as an excuse in case of failure, but Dunga dismissed the opinion as that of a “guy who never kicked the ball. He needs to play,” Dunga said.
“If he played with the ball he would have a different opinion. He is a guy who never got on the field. I want him to be here in our practice and we will give him the ball to see if he can control it,” he added.
Marcus Hahnemann, the American goalkeeper, on Thursday became the latest to criticise the Jabulani ball, arguing it is too light and allows too much spin. Valcke, however, said on Tuesday that the ball is going to be used at the World Cup regardless. “It’s a ball which is used by a number of teams, it’s months now since the ball has been put in the market by Adidas,” Valcke said.
“And is it Brazil who say that because they are afraid that they will not make it and it will be due to the ball. We will see.”
A number of Brazilian players have complained about the ball. The striker Luis Fabiano called it “weird” and the goalkeeper Julio Cesar compared it unfavourably to those bought at supermarkets.
Dunga added that, “it wasn’t only the Brazilians who complained. Other very successful players are also complaining.”
The Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon said the Jabulani’s “trajectory is really unpredictable,” Spain’s Iker Casillas claimed the balls were in an “appalling condition.”
“Technology is not everything,” said Hahnemann, who plays for English premier league team Wolverhampton Wanderers. — AP