Brazil team doctor Jose Luiz Runco admitted on Sunday that star midfielder Kaka, who failed to shine at the FIFA™World Cup, was not properly fit and would not have played at a lesser event.

“Maybe in other situations Kaka would not have played even the World Cup, but he really wanted to be there,” said Runco as the squad touched down in Rio following their flight back from South Africa.

Kaka came into the tournament on the back of a disappointing season with Real Madrid which was marred by thigh problems which forced him to miss more than six weeks of the season. And when he did play the 65 million-euro summer signing from AC Milan did not hit the heights, prompting him to admit that he had himself not been happy.

Brazil were eliminated by the Netherlands in a 2-1 defeat in the quarter-finals. On the squad’s return to Rio after a ten-hour flight from South Africa, players had insults hurled at them by angry fans. Felipe Melo, who diverted a Wesley Sneijder free-kick into the net for the Dutch equaliser and was later sent off, was the focus of much of their ire.

Protected by bodyguards, the Juventus player had to run for cover towards a vehicle driven by his father after supporters left him in no doubt as to their displeasure, even though the players were taken through a side door to avoid potential angry hordes at the main exit.

Fans were more forgiving with goalkeeper Julio Cesar, some shouting out their gratitude for what they saw as a good showing overall by the Inter Milan custodian who was tearful after the Dutch defeat. He also stopped to speak. “I am very emotional – I want to thank the Brazilian fans. This was the fruit of three-and-a-half years of work,” he said before being driven off along with his mother.

Kleberson, Gilberto Melo, Juan and Thiago Silva also had to run the gauntlet along with team doctor Runco and technical assistant Jorginho. The remainder of the squad carried on to Sao Paulo.

Brazil will be without Elano for Friday’s FIFA World Cup™ quarter-final against the Netherlands.

The team’s medical staff said the former Manchester City midfielder has not recovered from an ankle injury and could be out for the rest of the tournament.

Elano, 29, suffered the injury in a challenge by Côte d’Ivoire defender Cheik Tiote in Brazil’s 3-1 win and limped out of a training session yesterday.

Brazil’s team doctor Jose Luiz Runco told reporters: “I’m not saying that he won’t be able to play again at this World Cup but he won’t be ready for Friday.

“He has bad bruising and it was after he trained on Sunday that he said that he was having problems.

“The bone is swollen and we have to release the pressure on it so he will do nothing strenuous for the rest of the week.”

“We still hope he can play next week but I can’t say that he will be able to categorically.”

Gilberto Silva has spoken of Brazil’s hunger for a sixth FIFA World Cup™ crown, insisting all the players are desperate for success in South Africa.

The South Americans sealed their place in the quarter-finals last night after coasting to a 3-0 win over continental rivals Chile in Johannesburg. And the former Arsenal midfielder is backing A Seleção to now go all the way.

“I believe we can win,” he said. “The mood in the squad is very good at the moment, everyone is enjoying a lot what we’re doing for our country. Everyone is hungry to achieve one more trophy for Brazil. This is what we talk about all the time.”

Goals from Juan, Luis Fabiano and Robinho helped Brazil take their record at this years finals to three wins and a draw, which came against Portugal. Their last eight opponents, the Netherlands, have won all their matches so far and are one of the form sides at the tournament.

Gilberto continued: “It was good how the team reacted, especially from the last game as we didn’t really have a very good game against Portugal. All of us know at this stage that there is no time to make mistakes as we did in the last game, and we worked very well today (Monday).

“We expect a very hard game because Holland have got a quality team with very good players. We know that we give them space it will be very difficult for us and we could have a problem. This is what we want to avoid. We have played against Holland in these big World Cup matches before and it will be an emotional game. But I’m sure we will do our job as we did tonight against Chile.”

He was also pleased by the way they have played as a unit so, especially the defence – widely seen as a weak point in the team. “It’s important to be very strong at the back and we have been,” he added. “Of course it helps our attacking players a lot because if we defend well we are sure that they will do their job up front. This is the kind of balance that we need until the end of the competition.”

With the Seleção storming their way through the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, fans and players alike are excited by the prospect of the 2014 tournament to be hosted in Brazil.

In the build up to the showdown between Brazil and Chile at Ellis Park on Monday night, Brazil fans came out in their droves to cheer their team to a win and a Quarter Final spot against the Netherlands in Nelson Mandela Bay stadium on Friday.

“We have been here since the start,” said Mauricio Conti, a fan following his team around South Africa. “We have enjoyed ourselves here very much. South Africa is an amazing country and very beautiful.”

Conti is one of many fans who is experiencing this tournament as a precursor to the 2014 FIFA World Cup to be hosted in Brazil. “We are now very excited for 2014, we hope it will be a big party like it has been here in South Africa. We are preparing for it and we want to show the world, like South Africa has, that we can host a great tournament.”

The Brazilian fans are hoping their side can win the trophy in South Africa, giving their own tournament an added boost. “We are extremely excited for a win,” said Conti. “If we can take the trophy for the sixth time, and then again in Brazil, it will be too much.”

As the fans geared up for the game at Ellis Park, dressed in their costumes and dancing to their football anthems, there was a sense of victory in the air.

“We have had a good tournament, but we as Brazil fans always expect a lot from our team,” said Wendel Rios, a veteran of four FIFA World Cups. “We have the biggest soccer culture in the world and long history with this tournament, it would be great to win the first one in Africa.”

As South Africans dressed in the blue, yellow and green of Brazil streamed past, Rios commented on how impressed he has been by the local fans and how they have got behind his team. “The fans are great, their support for other teams is very good. I hope they will be joining us in Brazil for our World Cup. There is much African influence in Brazil, with a lot of African heritage. South Africans will be very welcome there.”

“With all the cultures in Brazil, the mixture of people and our passion for football, 2014 will be a great tournament. We want to show the world what we can do,” Rios added.

As an ardent football fan, Rios is excited by some of the exports that will be changing the tournament when it arrives in his home. “The vuvuzela is amazing, the sound in the stadiums is so huge, it has revolutionised football. We will have it in Brazil.”

For many Brazilian fans, seeing what South Africa has achieved is an inspiring and motivating factor for 2014. “We are prepared and excited, but South Africa has really raised the bar and done a good job. This means we must also do well to show the world what we are capable of,” said visiting fan, Lorema Bodelho.

Brazil coach Dunga plans to speak to Kaka over the coming days in a bid to help the playmaker stop picking up needless yellow cards.

The Real Madrid midfielder collected his third caution of the FIFA World Cup™ – after two in the 3-1 group win over Cote d’Ivoire - for a trip on Arturo Vidal during his country’s 3-0 second-round win over Chile last night. It took some of the gloss off his return from suspension in a match that saw the five-time champions march into the quarter-finals thanks to goals from Juan, Luis Fabiano and Robinho.

Dunga said: “It is a problem – I don’t want Kaka to be out suspended. It looks as though the technical players are punished and those who commit fouls aren’t always. This started happening in the group phase and we are going to talk about this with Kaka. It is a concern for him but we don’t want to get bogged down with the issue.”

Ominously, though, Dunga warned that confidence among his squad was increasing with every match. He continued: “We know there is always this expectation that Brazil will be the winners but being the favourite does not allow you to win the World Cup.

“Some people doubted that we would perform but as we go along that confidence is growing and growing and we hope to make it to the final. When we had the ball, we were able to use it quickly. The quality Brazilian players have makes that easier. This team now has an ingrained playing style, even if there are personnel changes.”

But the coach was slightly wary of their next challenge against the Netherlands. He added: “Holland have a great World Cup tradition and they are very similar to the South American teams so we have to be extremely careful. We have to be prepared to deal with extremely technical, excellent players. They are a solid team.”

Opposite number Marcelo Bielsa felt his team deserved what they got, but was satisfied by what they had achieved in South Africa. We deserved to reach this stage but we also deserved to go out,” he said.

“Perhaps the margin of victory was a bit excessive but, overall, it was clear just how superior our opponents were. Brazil had the patience to take advantage of any spaces we gave them, and it’s always dangerous when you concede the first goal against them. We did a good job despite being one of the youngest sides in the competition, which makes me think that, with the benefit of more experience, we can continue to progress in the future.”

Brazil coach Dunga warned that his tournament favourites’ confidence is increasing with every match after they eased to a 3-0 victory over Chile. Budweiser Man of the Match Robinho rounded off a comfortable 3-0 win in Johannesburg’sEllis Park stadium after goals by Juan and Luis Fabiano to secure a quarter-final contest with Holland.

Dunga said: “We know there is always this expectation that Brazil will be the winners but being the favourite does not allow you to win the World Cup. Some people doubted that we would perform but as we go along that confidence is growing and growing and we hope to make it to the final.”

Robinho, released on loan to Santos by Manchester City last season, insisted he would continue to put individual glory behind his team’s achievement. He added: “I’m very happy with the goal and victory of my team and if I am able to be the best player and top scorer in the World Cup 2010, that will be fine but at the moment I’m concentrating my efforts on the team.”

Kaka, on his return from suspension, also showed just why he is so important to Brazil but picked up a third caution of the tournament, from English referee Howard Webb. Dunga said he will raise the issue with the Real Madrid midfield star. “It is a problem – I don’t want Kaka to be out suspended,” he said.

Dunga said the quarter-final would provide Brazil’s toughest challenge so far. “Holland have a great World Cup tradition and they are very similar to the South American teams so we have to be extremely careful,” he said. “We have to be prepared to deal with extremely technical, excellent players. They are a solid team.”

Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa refused to be drawn on whether he would stay in his position and admitted Brazil had been too strong. He said: “The scoreline could have been lower but Brazil’s superiority was too much for us, they took advantage of every crack we had in our defence.

“In terms of my own position, for the time being the situation is not right to evaluate what to do next.”