Argentina win over Brazil would benefit both teams

	With players like Juan Román Riquelme on the ball, Argentina has been able to overrun opponents with its traditional passing game. Mauricio Lima/AFP/Getty Images
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MARACAIBO, Venezuela -- It's Argentina against Brazil once more in the final of the Copa América, and time for another clash of South American styles between the continent's big two.

In the intense heat Sunday afternoon here, the pattern of the game looks entirely predictable:

Argentina will pass, pass and pass again, attempt to dictate the rhythm from centerfield and wear its opponents down for the second-half onslaught. Brazil will make its effort in sudden bursts, breaking forward with terrifying speed and power, and will also offer a threat from free kicks and corners, either with direct strikes at goal or with its array of giants attacking the ball played into the box.

South America's major powers used to be more similar in their approach to the game. Argentine soccer put more emphasis on the pass, while Brazil stressed the dribble -- but there was a time when they had much more in common than the teams of Alfio Basile and Dunga that will square off on Sunday.

The roads started to diverge after the 1974 World Cup in West Germany, where South America was shocked to find itself rendered obsolete by the clockwork orange from Holland. Much has been made of the Dutch and their "total football," with its constant interchanging of positions when in possession.

What is often overlooked is the pressure they put their opponents under when they wanted to get the ball back. The South Americans were accustomed to having time on the ball -- to looking up, having a chat, reading the paper and then deciding what they were going to do with it. Instead they suddenly found themselves with half of Holland charging towards them. The South Americans were run over by the Dutch in 1974, and went back over the Atlantic to lick their wounds and think again.

Brazil was confused. It tried to imitate the Dutch in '78, turned the clock back to more traditional times in '82 and '86, and copied Italy in '90. None of it worked. Then in '94 Brazil came up with the formula which has served it so well in recent years.

Obsessed with the physical strength of the northern Europeans, Brazil worked at its physical preparation until it led the world in this area. Its players became taller, stronger, more athletic, built for explosion. It was reflected in the style of play.

Within the traditional 4-4-2 system, Brazil switched its emphasis. Intricate midfield passers were out. Instead, the men in central midfield held the fort while the fullbacks powered forward to link up with the exceptional individual talent that Brazil can always count on up front.

Current coach Dunga was a product of the formula, as the captain and one of the central midfielders when Brazil ended its long wait by coming out on top in USA '94. He has given the system a tweak, changing the midfield from a "two and two" to a diamond. It has given him more attacking presence in the opponent's penalty area.