Nowhere to hide for world champions Brazil

WEGGIS, Switzerland, May 24: Nestling quietly on the banks of Lake Lucerne with a population of 4,000, the sleepy Swiss village of Weggis looks perfect for some peace and quiet -- unless you happen to be the Brazilian football team.

The world champions haven chosen to spend 12 days in the idyllic lakeside resort to prepare for their assault on an unprecedented sixth world title in the utmost tranquillity.

Yet the huge circus which follows the likes of Ronaldinho, Kaka and Ronaldo has simply upped shop and followed them to the Swiss Alps.

While the team are isolated in their hotel, their training sessions will be watched in close proximity by a crowd of 5,000 in a specially built arena whose capacity is greater than the population of the village.

The sessions will be broadcast live back in Brazil and the players' every move will be closely scrutinised and analysed by the 800-strong accredited media.

''This is a result of what Brazil represents in world football today,'' said coach Carlos Alberto Parreira. ''You can't hide the Brazilian team.'' While many all of the world's top teams bar the media from their practice sessions, Brazil have always been refreshingly open at both national and club level.

When Manchester United visited Brazil for FIFA's inaugural World Club championship in 2000, they committed the cardinal sin of closing their practices and quickly rose to the top of the unpopularity stakes.

They were booed and jeered for the whole tournament.

Parreira admitted it would be pointless, in any case, to shut out the media and public.

''Everyone knows our players and what they're capable of,'' he said.

But he warned that if the fans -- who reach the stands by way of a party mile which includes imitation Brazilian beach bars -- got too boisterous, he would consider the drastic move of keeping out the public.

''As long as it doesn't reach a level which gets in the way, the public can watch,'' he said.

Brazilian media, however, have already speculated that the stands are much too close to the field.

The stands have been built less than two metres from the touchlines which means that almost any remark shouted from the crowd can be heard by the players.

Parreira, however, prefers to take all the attention as a complement.

''If you look at the tradition, history and quality of our players, they are the best players. They have the best skills and the best technique,'' he said.

''For that reason, everyone is looking forward to having Brazil at the World Cup.'' The World Cup kicks off in Germany on June 9.

REUTERS