Maicon produced a moment of pure Brazilian magic to set thefive-time champions on their way to victory in their opening gameagainst North Korea in Johannesburg.
The Brazilians, ranked number one in the Fifa rankings, were expected to cruise past the team in 105th place in theirGroup G encounter.
But on a difficult evening they had to wait until the 55th minute to break the deadlock as the NorthKoreans proved more than capable opponents.
It fell to right-back Maicon to settle Brazil's nerves with a goal of typicalbeauty.
Latching on to a pass down the right from Elano but at a seemingly impossible angle trapped against the byeline,he produced a swerving screamer that bent in with goalkeeper RiMyong-guk standing a fraction too far off his post.
The goal composed Dunga's previously erratic side and they doubled the leadwith 18 minutes left when Robinho slid a fabulous pass in for Elano toslot home from inside the area.
But North Korea gave them a much harder game than they were expecting and Kim Jong-Hun's sidegot a goal their endeavour deserved when Ji Yun-nam fired in superblyin the closing stages.
Brazil deserved the victory for their dominance in possession, especially in the second half, butNorth Korea's previously unknown players can hold their heads high aftera display full of passion and no little skill either.
In fact, playing their in their first World Cup since 1966, the Chollima - before they tired after the break - threatened to causean almighty upset.
With star striker Jong Tae-se - who cried during their national anthem - leading the line magnificently,they were giving Brazil as good as they got in a first half that swungfrom end to end in hugely entertaining fashion.
Indeed as Elano, Robinho and Michel Bastos all sprayed long-range shots widefrom outside the box, it was the little-fancied North Koreans who beganto test the Brazilian keeper as they proved that had not come to theWorld Cup simply to defend.
Jong was causing the usually unflappable Lucio all kinds of problems with his movement andpace and he turned sharply before firing straight at Julio Cesar, beforeRi Kwang-chon dragged wide from a good position on the edge of theBrazil box after they had failed to clear a corner.
Brazil were lethargic, with their best moments coming down the flanks asMaicon on the right and Michel Bastos - who had a 20-yard sizzlerdeflected over - got forward time and time again to support theirstruggling team-mates..
As the game wore on there was a sense that a major upset could be in the offing, but Maicon's devilishdrifter put paid to that and soon Brazil were controlling the game inthe manner with which their World Cup opponents have become accustomed.
Striker Luis Fabiano, without a goal in his last six Brazil games now, was desperate to get on the scoresheet, but he couldonly turn and blaze over, before Robinho wonderfully found Elano to makethe game safe.
Brazil still had a scare when Ji Yun-nam's brilliant first touch controlled a high ball and took him intospace in the Brazil box and he made no mistake with an unerring finishpast Julio Cesar.
There was no time for them to conjure the most unlikely of all equalisers, but their heroic displayfinally brought the World Cup to life and warmed the hearts of the crowdon a freezing night at Ellis Park.
