Johannesburg: More known for its skillful strikers, Brazil will try to win their sixth World Cup in South Africa backed by goalkeepers rated among the best in the world.
Julio Cesar — fresh from his Champions League title with Inter Milan — will be Brazil's starter when the tournament begins in a couple of weeks, and Tottenham's Heurelho Gomes — voted among the best goalkeepers in the Premier League this season — will be his backup.
Brazil have never been known for the prowess of its goalkeepers, but this time it arrives for the World Cup with shot stoppers that can attract just as much attention as their teammates on attack.
"Brazilian goalkeepers are respected now," Cesar said. "We have many more playing in top clubs and they are all getting the respect they deserve. Today we see European clubs wanting to sign Brazilian goalkeepers, not only strikers."
Cesar is seen as a top-notch player even in Italy, a country known for having some of the best goalkeepers in the world. He was placed among the best there even before he helped Inter win all three major titles it played this season.
"When you win these important championships, the prestige is bigger," Cesar said. "But I have to keep my feet on the ground. If they say I'm the best in the world, I'm not going to believe them. That keeps me grounded. Goalkeepers are in a unique position, one day you are the best in the world, the next you are the worst."
He said all he really wants is to make history with Brazil, regardless of playing well or not.
"My only goal is to be touching that trophy when it's all over," the 30-year-old Cesar said. "It's my dream. When they talk about the 2010 team, I want my name to be remembered."
Coach Dunga is yet to officially announce who is Cesar's immediate backup in South Africa, but Gomes has an edge over AS Roma's Doni after a remarkable season with Tottenham in England. He came up with crucial saves in matches late in the season, helping the team secure a Champions League spot for the first time.
"It was a wonderful season for me," Gomes said. "To be chosen as one of the best in the Premier League was incredible and that helped me earn a place in the national team at the World Cup, which is something I didn't even dream about when I started playing. It's the greatest prize a player can get."
Doni was Brazil's main goalkeeper when the team won the 2007 Copa America, but he was left aside after losing his starting spot at AS Roma. Many in Brazil criticized Dunga for calling Doni instead of young Gremio goalkeeper Victor, but Dunga said that Doni's commitment to the national team made him deserve the spot.
"We will all be hoping for Julio to play well," the 29-year-old Gomes said. "Nobody wants anything bad to happen to him. But if needed, we will be ready, that's for sure."
No matter who plays, though, Brazilian fans apparently won't have to worry with the goalkeeping position.
"For a long time we have been trying to change this idea that Brazil doesn't have good goalkeepers and this is happening now," said former goalkeeper Claudio Taffarel, who played three World Cups with Brazil, including when it won the 1994 title in the United States.
He is one of Brazil's observers at this World Cup, and was the one who opened the doors for Brazilian goalkeepers in Europe when he moved to Italy's Parma in the early 1990s.
Other Brazilian abroad now include Dida at AC Milan, Helton at FC Porto, Diego Alves at Almeria, Julio Sergio at AS Roma and Diego Cavalieri at Liverpool.
"We are breaking some barriers," Taffarel said. "More and more good Brazilian goalkeepers will be showing up."
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