JOHANNESBURG: Brazil coach Dunga (pic) urged journalists to stop "hitting and attacking" him as he prepares for their opening Group G match against North Korea at Ellis Park tomorrow (2.30am).

Dunga, who captained his nation to the world crown in 1994, has come under fire from the Brazilian Press and public for adopting a pragmatic approach which puts winning above the futebol bonito — beautiful football — which the country is famed for.

The match against the mysterious North Koreans could be a great example of the demands on Dunga — a win alone will not be considered good enough, the team will be expected to win with style.

"I support the team from the morning to the evening and if I respond and say something a bit out of turn they are going to say I am bitter.

You guys (the media) hit me, you attack me from morning to the evening and if I just answer, you tell me I am out of line."

On whether if he drew any strength from the friction with the media, he said: "I don't think there is anything positive you can draw from it. You may not like my answer, but you can criticise me for 24 hours, I can only criticise you for one second, and that is the crux of the matter."

Dunga, a defensive midfielder himself in his playing days, is most widely criticised for his use of two anchor men with little or no flair — usually Gilberto Silva and Felipe Melo.

However, he does have star man Kaka fit after an injury-disrupted season with Real Madrid, while Inter Milan goalkeeper Julio Cesar has overcome a back problem.

Fullback Maicon, meanwhile, wants to end a season of stunning success at club level by helping his country secure a sixth World Cup crown.

The 28-year-old was a key part of the Inter Milan side who won the Champions League, Serie A and Coppa Italia titles in the just concluded season and from a personal perspective, winning the World Cup would be a crowning moment.

"The main objective of my career is to win a World Cup.

And now I'm taking this opportunity. But of course it will not be achieved alone.

Our main strength i s unity . When we're together we're strong," he said.