World expecting too much of Brazil, says Juninho

BERGISCH GLADBACH, Germany, June 19 (Reuters) Brazilian midfielder Juninho Pernambucano said today that the world was expecting too much of his team.

After Brazil got the thumbs-down for their performance in yesterday's 2-0 win over Australia, Juninho warned that the world champions would have to suffer if they wanted to win a record sixth World Cup title.

''A great amount of expectation was created before the tournament,'' Juninho told reporters.

''They think that Brazil are always going to win playing great football and score lots of goals in every match.

''This is a reflection of what happens in Brazil where we tend to exaggerate, we create great expectations and go from eight to 80.

''We are going to have to suffer if we want to win the World Cup.'' Brazil established themselves as favourites by thrashing arch-rivals Argentina 4-1 in the final of last year's Confederations Cup.

'GREAT SAVE' But Juninho said that his side were lucky not to be eliminated in the group stage of that competition, when they lost to Mexico and were held 2-2 by Japan.

''People remember the final but forget that we were nearly knocked out and only got through the first round thanks to a great save by Marcos against Japan,'' he said.

Juninho added that other teams had got better.

''The standard is very high,'' he said. ''Who would have thought 10 years ago that Australia could take Brazil on the way they did yesterday? ''Argentina played the best game of the cup and are the best team right now,'' he added after Brazil's rivals beat Serbia&Montenegro 6-0.

''But it's important to be the best team on July 9. If we win every game 1-0, that would be great.'' REUTERS PDS BST0140