Can Zambia spring a suprise against Brazil?

Even though I am a Zambian, I will admit that today’s game against Brazil is one that will leave the nation disappointed. I fail to figure out how the current Zambian team can stop the Samba Boys as the Brazilians are called from recording a convincing win. Which player in our current team can stop the free-flowing Brazilian side featuring the likes of Oscar, Ramires, Neimar and Dani Alves to mention but a few?

The Brazilians who by virtual of hosting next year’s World Cup have already qualified for the Worlds’ greatest football showpiece would look to easy past Zambia. From the time Luiz Felipe Scolari was appointed coach, he has been busy playing friendly matches just to imbibe the right kind of quality to progress in the tournament. They are a team that is on resurgence with some bright young talents that routed the World and European champions - Spain in the final of the Confederation Cup. The Spaniards were silenced 3-0 in a game that many pundits thought would be an evenly contested encounter. 

Zambia are not expected to provide much of a problem to a team that already recorded a 2-0 win over a much stronger South Korean side on Saturday. Scolari admitted he is running out of time to experiment with the Brazil squad and wants every player, who is given an opportunity, to exploit it to the fullest. He already hinted that he is going to make five changes to his side that beat the Koreans. 

The Chipolopolo Boys have plenty of problems of their own with three players -- namely Stopilla Sunzu, Rainford Kalaba and Nathan Sinkala - facing immigration exit problems after reportedly leaving the country without following the proper procedure. The trio who were expected to join the squad to face Brazil in an international friendly in Beijing, China, are believed to have crossed into Congo on an unknown date but between Saturday October 12 and Sunday October 13, 2013. 

That aside, Zambia is one country that can spring surprises especially, when you don’t place so much hope on them. And being a Zambian I would very much love to witness one against a side that we have never met at senior level. But the list of problems with our players is too long to expect such a thing to happen. Collins Mbesuma, Davies Nkausu and Mukuka Mulenga will all sit out today’s game because of inuries and Jacob Mulenga and Chisamba Lungu have just recovered from their injuries while, Mayuka lacks match fitness.

Let me now end here and wait to see the outcome. Otherwise I wish everyone a pleasant game.