Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira admits last-16 opponents Ghana were World Cup debutants at the start of the tournament - but he believes "losing their innocence" is the best thing that could have happened to the African side.

Defending champions Brazil, uniquely, have played in every World Cup and their five victories make them by far the most successful side in the history of the competition - but Parreira insists his team will not be taking lightly a Ghana team making their maiden appearance on the big stage.

Asked about claims Ghana were "the Brazil of Africa", Parreira told a press conference in Bergisch-Gladbach: "They (Ghana) have always been skilful technically but have improved a lot because they have lost their innocence.

"Their football is much more professional now."

Brazil are confident Robinho will recover from an injury he sustained in training - the player felt a tweak in his right thigh but medical staff played down the incident.

"We will look at how it develops," said team doctor Jose Luiz Runco.

"It might need a scan but hopefully he will be training normally."

Generous though he was about Ghana, Parreira insisted Brazil's World Cup fate lay in their own hands.

"Of course we take into account our opponents and we respect them and must analyse them but the main focus for us is to concentrate on our own game and ensure we play the way we want to," said Parreira who led Brazil to their fourth World Cup in 1994.

Brazil's 4-1 demolition of Japan in their last Group F match after laboured victories over Croatia and Australia showed the first glimpse in this tournament of the flowing football the Latin Americans are famous for.

"We have a job to do and as time passes the physical improvement is showing in the team," he said. "Finally Brazil are playing some good football.

"In the World Cup you need to play very technical football and you have to always make progress because now the tournament is in its knockout stages it's like every game is a final."

Brazil are aiming to play in their fourth final in a row but Parreira refuses to look that far forward for the time being at least.

"The most important game is always the next game," said Parreira. "The only final we have on the agenda at the moment is our last 16 game.

"We respect Ghana who are technically a very good team," said Parreira. "They have just played two very good games especially against the Czechs (a match won 2-0 by Ghana). To get to the last 16 of the World Cup shows they are a good team.

"We are now entering a difficult phase of the competition where if you lose a game you go home."

Speaking before tweaking his thigh in training Robinho had told reporters he was itching to play against Ghana.

"I am ready to play if I am asked to," said the Real Madrid player. "But the decision must be made by the Professor (Parreira)."