Footballing World at the Emirates Stadium

With both Argentina and Brazil, the two powers of South American football, hiring new coaches post disappointing World Cup campaigns, and the friendly between the two taking place in London not Buenos Aires, the sometimes brutal enmity one nation shows to the other was forced into concealment as Brazil’s largely untainted squad strolled past unimaginative Argentina.

The jury is very much out on Dunga, a former world cup winner, who has no experience in management. Many Brazilian journalists have declared their opposition, claiming he should develop managerial skills at a club first. Brazilians are driven by football, and that is why a winning appointment is so crucial.

A match which threatened, in the opening ten minutes, to go down as a classic adjourned into a Samba masterclass. Alfio Basile sent out a largely recognisable team, in order to secure a morale-boosting victory, but beyond the early moments it was a lethargic performance under the captaincy of playmaker, but evidently not leader, Juan Roman Riquelme. As the most gifted Argentine, his attempts to control the ten other other players incurred a backlash onto his usually ample set-piece delivery.

Lionel Messi tookover corner duty half-way through while only two of Riquelme’s many positionally premium freekicks caused havoc in a customarily frantic Brazil defence. Instead, on two occasions, the man from the Yellow Submarine decided to try and impose his authority. How? Well by pushing around the opposition of course; in the process earning himself a yellow card from the unusually relaxed Steve Bennett.

So while the best talent was wasted, the youth endeavoured to make up. Messi was enjoying being given a full game, performing like a captain – at least in one half of the field. Constantly the Barcelona man was making runs at the proficient duo of Lucio and Juan, seamlessly intertwining tricks and dummies but essentially to no avail, as his teammates let him down. With no Hernan Crespo or Maxi Rodriguez, Basile was forced to look on from the edge of his technical area and gasp at the many potential chances; perhaps thinking about likely difficulties in the future which could be instigated by a lack of strength in depth.

The crowd was very much a sea of yellow, although the actual number of fans that can fluently speak Portuguese may be near zero, judging by the number of boos that came out when ‘White Hart Lane’ was mentioned at the end as tickets remained unsold for Brazil’s encounter with Wales.

Surprisingly, many Arsenal fans felt threatened by West Ham’s Argentine invasion. One exclaimed that it wouldn’t be a shame if the two players were both were injured in the match, and it was the first time an English audience could glare at Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano in anger.

Kaka, in true Kaka fashion, tried to steal the show, but Elano deserves credit for an accomplished display

The former, who used to play at Boca Juniors – where Alfio Basile still manages (until 15 September) – made himself busy but had only effort of note, forcing a decent save from Gomes in goal. Like a terrier, he persistently battled for the ball, and revealed his temper, leaving 59,032 spectators to think how right he was for the Premiership. The morning press will have made uncomfortable reading for West Ham fans, but Tevez, surely, will only be able to leave if he does settle in and play exceptionally.

Mascherano was far quieter, and he was withdrawn at half-time. Having been rejected by Manchester United less than a week ago, though, he will be looking to prove his credentials plus more when he comes up against a revitalised Aston Villa next Sunday.

Elano was the undoubted star of the show. He has already been hailed as Brazil’s future, and Dunga will be pleased at how such a youthful squad so easily overcame their adversaries. Robinho, playing with passion and roaring the crowd on, initiated the third-minute move. His caressed ball found the feet of Elano, who, playing in only his fourth game, slotted past Roberto Abbondanzieri with ease. His last name is ‘Blumer’, and at 25 he certainly has blossomed later than most. But the coach has stated that Elano will represent his ideas about football on the pitch.

It was Kaka, who received the biggest roar of the afternoon when brought on with half-an-hour to play, who finished Argentina off. Firstly, his perfectly weighted ball allowed Elano to skip in for a smoothly taken second and then, in the dying moments, the AC Milan midfielder – so coveted by Real Madrid over the summer – justified the incessant name-screaming with a simply magnificent and breathtaking run once he had taken the ball off Messi. From his own half, Kaka glided past gawping Argentine defenders before slotting expertly past the hapless Abbondanzieri.

Kaka, in true Kaka fashion, tried to steal the show, but Elano deserves credit for an accomplished display. Julio Baptista came on, must to the delight of the many Arsenal fans, as he will play at the Emirates stadium for the season, on loan. Meanwhile, 21-year-old Rafael Sóbis earned his first cap, although he was only on for five minutes. The former Internacional player, who moved to Real Betis over the summer, has fully deserved his call-up after shining in the Copa Libertadores (leading Internacional to their first ever triumph in the competition), and he is set to be another of Brazil’s future stars.

There is plenty of work for Basile to carry out if Argentina want to recreate their World Cup form in time for the Copa America and certainly by the 2010 event in South Africa. On the victorious side though, Dunga has won over his critics, for the time being, with a resounding victory after a polished performance. The defence was consistent, midfield creative, and strikers prolific enough.

But, as a final point, don’t think the pain will be ceaseless for Argentina, even if they have fallen behind in the head-to-head wins column (34-33). There are 23 more of these match-ups – at least – over the next five years in an attempt to boost the coffers and raise the PR profile of the two nations, who traditionally fight out much harsher matches in the heat of South America.