World Cup Analysis
Floundering Brazil exit with a whimper
Amid the furore surrounding Germany’s belated bloom and the invasion of England fans into the host nation, one set of players have come and gone with barely a whisper. Brazil reaching the quarter-finals is simply shocking. Unthinkable – surely? But their tame exit has been accepted with little more than a nod and a pat on [...]
Amid the furore surrounding Germany’s belated bloom and the invasion of England fans into the host nation, one set of players have come and gone with barely a whisper.
Brazil reaching the quarter-finals is simply shocking. Unthinkable – surely? But their tame exit has been accepted with little more than a nod and a pat on the back. They didn’t flourish or turn on the traditional Brazilian style; nor did the world’s best player – as voted for – bother bringing his Barcelona boots across Europe, perhaps inhibited by the immense pressure on his country to succeed and the big ego’s within the camp.
The signs were there of an underlying arrogance when the champions decided to hold an entire training session open to the public and media. Such a move does not usually result in positive connotations. Carrying over from the success of 2002 was the reliance on Ronaldo who had been pedestrian all season for Real Madrid yet he was expected to switch on a goals button covered with cobwebs. Ronaldinho would provide the party tricks while Cafu and Roberto Carlos demanded fitting goodbyes. If only football worked in fairytales.
Comparisons involving Brazil and England are rare, but both nations began and ended their tournaments in the same predicament. Beforehand they were buoyant about their chances of remaining in Germany until the 9 July final, yet their bullishness didn’t fit reason.
And although the Brazilians have greater reason to be expectant, the requirement to retain their 2002 winnings was based on all the players from around Europe synergising effectively within a very short period of time and just one warm-up match.
 |
 The anticipation was that as the tournament progressed so would the Brazilian team - and the probability of this appeared high when taking into account the immensely talented squad  |
So eight days earlier than planned they are heading home. Who knows how many will actually return to Brazil rather than going back to their European homes, but a hero’s welcome is not on offer. In the same way as England, they did not perform to their own high standards but nevertheless cruised to the last eight. The anticipation was that as the tournament progressed so would the Brazilian team - and the probability of this appeared high when taking into account the immensely talented squad.
Their feeble win over Croatia was put down to work in progress, and Kaka’s sumptuous strike was exactly what the world imagined and assumed that Brazil would be providing for five weeks. But Ronaldo was dreadful and it was clear that marginally better opposition would seriously challenge Brazil’s immaculate authority over the footballing world. The lethargy was sustained in a narrow win over Australia and things looked to be coming to a decisive head when they went a goal down to lowly Japan. But there was no need for an inquest just yet.
The players, perhaps in trepidation of such an inquisition, turned on the style and scored four times – a result that appeared to declare that Brazil had finally touched down in Germany. But to the keener eye, all was not well. There were childish squabbles over who would take set-pieces (Carlos, Ronaldinho or others who merely fancied it). The consequence was that no plan or pattern was set for someone as influential as the Barcelona playmaker. He was never allowed to settle down or evolve into the yellow colours, ironically having less of an impact than in the Far East despite indisputably improving. Being a quiet and unassuming character, Ronaldinho was not one to press down his authority in the way he should have done. Instead he melted into mediocrity, rarely showing why he is irrefutably the best in the world. He seemed beaten over by the big ego’s which decided to concentrate on how much money was being earned and the state of affairs in the WAG department.
Opponents allow Ronaldinho to roam free at their peril, and Carlos Alberto Parreira offered him no special treatment which came with the hazard of a disappointing tournament. This World Cup cannot now go down as one of the greatest after such a poor offering from the reigning champions, who seemed willing to give up their crown to save on the airport baggage surcharges.
Rather than Ronaldinho, the focus was on an oversized Ronaldo. Parreira declared he would keep faith in him, and although the Madrid forward went on to break Gerd Muller’s record with his 15th goal (not something the purists will be pleased with), the rotation of forwards was reminiscent of a circus. Parreira appeared to offer very little direction to his skilful players, most noticeable in his substitutes who after coming on merely slotted into their positions and played with vacant eyes and brains.
There was no continuity in the team and another talented starlet Kaka became increasingly restricted and isolated in midfield and progressively more inactive when he ought to be assisting in every goal. There were belated experiments with Adriano dropped for Juninho in the quarter-final tie. The lively Robinho played only a bit part role but the lack of a distinct and effective game-plan resulted in a potentially exciting and feasible ‘attack & attack’ policy failing, most notably against France. Meanwhile the defence may as well have been on a beach such was its incompetence.
|
Ghana had an unbelievable number of chances, and with the aid of better finishing may have taken the game into extra time. Such a top-heavy side like Brazil had little prospect of retaining their crown |
The importance of the tournament being played in Europe was dismissed, despite Brazil having only once won it when being held in the continent. Evidently the Brazilians were not hindered by the fear of Europe and being away from home, but the separation of their key players for so long led to disasters on the pitch with the performances disjointed throughout. The likes of England, Italy and Spain are in far superior positions with the majority of their players based either at home or within Europe. This is not the case for most of Brazil’s stars.
Parreira’s men were not truly tested, as first seeds, until their game against France. The group stage was straightforward and a second round tie with Ghana was as easy as they could have wished for. A 3-0 win again paved over the cracks that by this time were becoming dangerously large. Ghana had an unbelievable number of chances, and with the aid of better finishing may have taken the game into extra time. Such a top-heavy side had little prospect of retaining their crown.
Whereas Brazil never played at their greatest, France were at their zenith in rolling back the years in the quarter-final. Man of the match Zinedine Zidane was imperious (in stark contrast to the group stage matches) and once again frustrated the Brazilian defence. No headed goals this time, but an assist to the next generation and Thierry Henry – currently France’s greatest export – who finished with aplomb, although aided by defenders wishing for help from above.
The French side have united since qualifying in nervous circumstances from their group having overcome their demons from four years ago. They came back heroically against Spain and were commanding against Brazil, whose arrogance had swelled, and they deservedly won. Brazil stayed in first gear thinking it would be enough to oust France, but with Raymond Domenech’s men in fourth or fifth gear there could only be one winner.
Parreira’s return has not brought further for the greatest footballing nation. The Brazilian players leave with their heads down in an unusually quiet exit, with the focus predominantly on the host nation and the transformation they have enjoyed. There is no room for egotism and self-importance at the World Cup finals, and Brazil will need a similarly vast transformation if they are to quell a new-found and destructive form of arrogance in time for the 2010 finals where once again the eyes of the world will be on them to impress but to also rekindle the yearning to be champions of the world – as the 1998 defeat did.
Tags: Discussion
2 comments for “Floundering Brazil exit with a whimper”
Post a comment
Welcome to Footballing World
Recent Posts
In Focus
Jonathon Craigie believes Rafa Benítez has finally found the key to securing Premier League glory for Liverpool.
Featured Posts
Fabio Capello's reign began slowly but England have since shone in World Cup qualifying, a return to the days of Sven-Goran Eriksson when progressing into major tournaments was always a facile task.
Jonathan O'Shea looks at the English quartet's chances of progressing into the knockout stages of the Uefa Cup.
How important is Javier Mascherano for Liverpool? Chakrit Narula believes the all-action Argentine could be a future captain following his terrific impact since arriving at Anfield.
[...] was to signify the beginning of a slide in his career. After the highs of the Stade de France, he failed to make much of an impact in Germany and Brazil went out at the quarter-final stage with a whimper. It is uncertain what had [...]
[...] was to signify the beginning of a slide in his career. After the highs of the Stade de France, he failed to make much of an impact in Germany and Brazil went out at the quarter-final stage with a whimper. It is uncertain what had [...]