Curitiba (one of the host cities of the World Cup 2014) was chosen for this last stage of preparation in Brazil thanks to its climate, which is similar to Johannesburg’s, where Brazil will stay.

These first days of the preparation, the busiest person of the Brazilian team (and the one most listened to) will be José Luiz Runco (photo), official doctor of the staff.

Two players have deserved more attention: Luis Fabiano and Kaká. Fabiano got injured two weeks ago, and was saved from playing with his team, Sevilla, last weekend. Kaká has been suffering from a pubis lesion which, even though he says to be healed, also kept him out of the last matches.

Doctor Runco, however, affirmed that, after preliminary observations, all Brazilian players are in good physical conditions.

In the past ten World Cups (since 1970), it was only in 1990 that at least one player wasn’t dismissed from the Brazilian team because of physical problems (see a list here).

In 1998, Romário had a lesion in the calf; despite all effort to heal it (Romário had been the star of the 1994 champion team, and all time was given to him), Romário was eventually dismissed (see Romário crying before the cameras), and Emerson was called to replace him. Ironically, in 2002, it was Emerson who got injured during a training in Korea, and Ricardinho was called to replace him. In 2006, it was Edmilson who got injured, and Mineiro was his substitute.

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Final list of Brazil players in the World Cup 2010:

Goalkeepers:
Julio Cesar (Internazionale Milan)
Gomes (Tottenham)
Doni (Roma)

Wings:
Maicon (Internazionale Milan)
Daniel Alves (Barcelona)
Gilberto (Cruzeiro)
Michel Bastos (Lyon)

Defense:
Lucio (Internazionale Milan)
Juan (Roma)
Luisão (Benfica)
Thiago Silva (Milan)

Midfielders:
Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos)
Felipe Melo (Juventus)
Josué (Wolfsburg)
Kleberson (Flamengo)
Elano (Galatasaray)
Ramires (Benfica)
Kaká (Real Madrid)
Julio Baptista (Roma)

Forward:
Luís Fabiano (Sevilla)
Robinho (Santos)
Nilmar (Villarreal)
Grafite (Wolfsburg)

In 2009, Messi helped Barcelona to be champion of Spain, Europe and the World. Messi obtained 1,073 points in votes casted by coaches and captains of 147 national teams; Cristiano Ronaldo was second with 352 points, followed by Xavi (196), Kaká (190) and Iniesta (134).

FIFA also polled 50,000 players from around the world to come up with the dream team 2009: Casillas (Spain) in goal; Daniel Alves (Brazil), Nemanja Vidic (Serbia), John Terry (England) and Patrice Evra (France) in defence; Steven Gerrard (England), Xavi (Spain) and Andres Iniesta (Spain) in midfield; and Lionel Messi (Argentina), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) and Fernando Torres (Spain) as forwarders.

Marta was elected player of the year for the 4th consecutive year; no other player, male or female, has ever achieved such a feat. Marta spent the past seasons in Europe and USA; currently, she is playing with Santos, in Brazil (which she helped win the Brazilian League and the first edition of Libertadores da America – the South America Champions League – for women).

The movie below compares Marta to Ronaldinho, two of the most skillful Brazilian players.

Despite being acclaimed as “Pelé in skirts” in Brazil, Marta is yet to win important titles for the national team. Marta was best player of the major events she participated of, but Brazil lost the final matches of the World Cup 2007 (Germany won) and of the Olympic Games 2008 (USA won).

So, just like Brazil would need more than Marta, it also can be that Argentina will need more than Messi.