THE FIFA World Cup is almost at hand, and true to form, the discussions — and maybe even the bets — have begun in earnest, with former Trinidad and Tobago and Manchester United star Dwight Yorke last week tipping European champions and world No 1-ranked team, Spain, to lift their maiden title in 2010.

In attempting to predict any likely winners of the South African showpiece, I would be only too cognisant that the average Jamaican is looking no further than Brazil.

After all, the five-time champions have won the coveted golden trophy on the only two previous occasions that the event was staged outside Europe or South America — in the USA in 1994, and Japan/South Korea in 2002 — and even at this hypothetical stage could never be ruled out of contention.

In fact, in numerous quarters, the ‘Samba Boys’ are howling favourites to notch an unprecedented sixth title on yet another continent and widen the gap by two over Italy — the second most successful nation in World Cup history.

Indeed, if last year’s Confederation Cup tourney which Brazil won over surprise finalists the United States bears remote similarity to the forthcoming contest, rest assured the trophy could again find a resting place in frenzied Rio de Janeiro.

As popular and successful as the Brazilians have been on the world stage, however, and inspite of their two World Cup triumphs over the past 16 years, the consensus is that something has gone gravely awry in their existing game, which is itself a testimony to their lofty standards.

Noticeably, Brazilian teams of the past two decades are far removed from their predecessors in flamboyance, elegance and ball-playing skills — characteristics that for decades befuddled opponents and wooed the world.

In reality, many followers of the game regard the 1982 team — which included Socrates, Zico, Eder, Falcao, Junior and company — as Brazil’s last authentic embodiment of ‘the beautiful game’.

This is itself quite ironic, since that said team did not even make the final after promising so much during the first two rounds where they demonstrated all-round finesse and were, by the proverbial country mile, the most impressive team on display, yet paid a heavy price for arrogance and sheer carelessness in defence.

So what could have attributed to that loss of allure in the Brazilian style of play? Is it that they have become modernised and decided to dispense with their uniquely debonair, but cavalier, style which at times left fans heartbroken and suicidal after a beautiful loss — such as that against Paulo Rossi’s Italy in the 1982 semi-finals?

Is it that the Brazilian football hierarchy has wizened up and is now privileging result over performance in keeping with the old adage that an ugly win is better than a pretty loss, or is it that the rest of the world has caught up with the most successful football nation of all time in all facets of the game, thus necessitating strategic changes to remain viable, competitive, current and marketable?

There are truths in all the above-mentioned assertions, but additional factors are the mass migration of their players to European clubs and the subsequent loss of that element of surprise that hitherto existed.

Without a doubt, Brazil is now appreciating the benefits of defensive play and is being further influenced by a defensive-minded coach who has unapologetically adopted the European approach, seemingly ceding individual brilliance and magic to Portugal and African teams like Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria and the Ivory Coast.

As the legendary Pele, Jairzinho, Rivelino, Carlos Aberto and company proved in the 1970 World Cup, however, it is possible to win with flair and pure artistry, even in the climate of the modern game.

But then, perhaps Dunga, like the 1994 coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira, recognises the limitations of the present-day squad which, even with virtually all its players landing lucrative overseas contracts, has yet to attain the pinnacle that the world awaits.

Maybe it’s time for the great Ronaldo to make a return.