SAO PAULO, Brazil -- Dunga says Brazil will need to approach the Olympics with caution, despite a favorable draw for the men's soccer competition.
Seeking its first Olympic gold medal in soccer, Brazil was placed with China, New Zealand and Belgium in Group C, considered by many to be one of the easiest.
Coach Dunga was not too upbeat, however.
"Everybody plays better when they face Brazil and that's going to happen again in the Olympics," the Brazilian coach said following Sunday's draw. "We need to prove our superiority on the field."
While acknowledging Brazil's opponents are not traditional soccer powers, Dunga did not want to label the group as easy.
"It's up to Brazil to show, on the field, whether the group is easy or difficult," he said. "Truth in soccer comes on the field."
The manager appeared most concerned with the host Chinese.
"China has been preparing with intensity to do well in all sports, and it's not going to be different with soccer," Dunga said.
Brazil will begin August 7 against Belgium, then face New Zealand three days later and China on August 13.
The Olympics is the only significant soccer title Brazil has never won. The Brazilians returned with the silver medal twice, in 1984 in Los Angeles and 1988 in Seoul, and the bronze in 1996 in Atlanta.
Dunga was a member of the Brazilian runner-up side in Los Angeles. The former defensive midfielder later helped Brazil's senior squad win the 1994 World Cup in the United States.
