Juninho - case for the defence. (Allsport)

By Ian Parkes, PA Sport, Tokyo

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Juninho believes Brazil have finally proven to the world they are a team which can defend as they now chase their fifth crown.

Considering Brazil almost failed to qualify for the first time in World Cup finals history, coach Luis Felipe Scolari's side have been making amends in the Far East.

They potentially stand just 180 minutes from adding to the titles they won in 1958, 1962, 1970 and 1994, with Turkey barring their path to a seventh final, which takes place in Yokohama next Sunday.

Brazil are no strangers to Turkey as it took a controversial late penalty to defeat the Turks, who also had two men sent off, and now a grudge return is on the cards when the two sides meet in the semi-final in Saitama on Wednesday.

It was a sluggish start and despite then beating China 4-0 and Costa Rica 5-2 to finish with maximum points from their group, question marks were raised about their defence.

They reared again in a 2-0 second-round triumph over Belgium, to such an extent many felt they would be fully exposed in the quarter-final against England.

But after losing Ronaldinho within minutes of his fluke strike giving Brazil a 2-1 lead, they then defended resolutely with 10 men for more than 30 minutes as England toiled in the heat and humidity of Shizuoka.

Former Middlesbrough star Juninho, hoping to reclaim his place in the side for the game with Turkey after being forced to watch the England win from the bench, said: "In the end, we have done well to get this far in the competition.

"But I think we have now shown we are a team which can defend. Against Belgium I felt we did that, and in particular against England we showed we are good at the back.

"We now face a tough match against Turkey, a good team we know very well because we have already played against them, but I feel we can beat them again to reach another final."

Scolari reckons it is the "fighting spirit" of his players which have seen them through against the odds because before the tournament started they were not expected to go beyond the last eight due to their poor form in qualifying.

Scolari, who dramatically claims his squad have reached such a stage because they are "determined to live rather than die", added: "I feel in reaching the semi-finals it is a case of a job well done. There is a personal feeling of satisfaction.

"Of course, I respect all the players who have been involved with the national team over the years, but I have never seen such a group defending the national colours with such a fighting spirit.

"We are doing the best job we possibly can, and it is the spirit of the group which I must praise and I admire most in my players."

Striker Ronaldinho, meanwhile, will be able to play in the final if Brazil beat Turkey after FIFA's disciplinary committee today handed the 22-year-old a one-match ban following his dismissal against England.

Ronaldinho was given a straight red card by Mexican referee Felipe Ramos Rizo for a challenge on Danny Mills, which would ordinarily have carried a two-match suspension.

But the sending off was harsh in the first place, and this may have played a part in the thinking of committe members.

With Ronaldo struggling with a thigh injury, it could mean Scolari being without two significant players in his now famous Ro-Ri-Ro forward line.