IS THIS Brazilian team the best in South Africa? Today in pubs and coffee shops, that's like asking if Manchester United are better than Liverpool.

You get a flood of response. Emotions boil over.

You have those who swear on their Black Label that Brazil is the best football nation in the world - not just among the eight teams in this Confederations Cup, but in the whole wide world.

Others, of course, will pooh-pooh that suggestion. They will point to the Spaniards and say: 'That's the team. They're the best.'

Well, today, and on that land mass around the Cape of Good Hope, 44 million South Africans stand together - believing that their team's tops going into the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup.

Can't blame them. This tournament is a dress rehearsal for next year's 'big one' and they will hate to see anyone - Brazilians, especially - spoil their party.

That's well and good. That's understandable. But that's not being real.

You see, when you look reality in the eye, one thing stands out. South Africa or Bafana Bafana, or whatever they call themselves, are several light years behind Brazil as far as playing football's concerned.

Self-belief

The South Africans, to their credit, have got loads of self-belief and hearts as big as the elephants which roam their vast hinterland.

But Brazil's got that hunger for goals. They've scored 10 so far - better even than Spain. To them it comes naturally. And why not?

A goal is like a dance. There is a certain choreography. Somebody must lead. Somebody has to be up here, someone has to be over there and somebody must finish it off. It is not easy. But the Samba boys have it down pat.

So, how on earth can South Africa beat them?

They way Brazil humiliated world champions Italy 3-0 was something else. The scorers weren't Kaka or Robinho but Luis Fabiano scored twice.

It showed their talent in depth. Yes, it's over for South Africa. So, when at the betting shop, don't think twice. Take the Samba boys to dance all over South Africa. Take Dunga's men all all fronts.

They are at prohibitive odds on the 1x2 - just $1.25 - but you simply cannot go against them. It will be suicide.