Brazil's center mids have been hardworking defensive types but they compensated for that with very creative forwards and good number 9s up to the time Ronaldo retired. They have not used Xavi type of midfielders and lost a couple like Deco and Senna to other countries. Starting slow in a WC is not the worst thing that can happen, teams recover from slow starts and even defeats to win the whole thing, however it can turn out like 06 for them when they never really got going or they can iron out their problems.