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Brazilian Magic in NYT

June 5th, 2006 | By: Euler Costa | 43 Comments »

That ‘Brazil has 2 teams’ post rendered a lot of comments while I was out. I knew it would happen. Every time you say ‘Brazil is great’ there will be many angered people eager to disqualify our team. The good surprise is that there were also many people to defend the Seleção in my behalf. Thank you all! That post was about the text of an Associated Press writer called Barry Wilner.

Ronaldinho in NYT This post is about another piece of press material that really filled me up with joy. I must advise: it will not be healthy for any Argentinean heart to read it, though. The text this time is from a big special feature of the New York Times called ‘We Love This Game’. It is really big, but for football and Brazil fans it is a ‘must read’ item. Towards the end, the article is more about Ronaldinho than our team but as one is inside the other it still is an ode to the Brazilian football.

Below there are some quotes just to give you a hint of what you’ll find in the feature.

“The English invented the game, but the Brazilians perfected it. They found the game brick and left it marble.”

“Soccer is the world’s biggest religion, cutting across race, faith, geography, ideology and gender like no other global phenomenon. Brazil is the religion’s favorite church.”

“Whereas so many professionals in every sport seem to carry the world’s worries on their faces as they play, Ronaldinho radiates the fun of a carefree 8-year-old boy.”

“Tostão, who played with Pelé on Brazil’s team in 1970 (beating England along the way), is a huge fan of Ronaldinho, and he agrees with Kfouri that what sets Brazilian soccer above the rest is what he calls its “daring” imagination.”

“Ronaldinho may get close to the secret of Brazilian soccer — the alliance of discipline and skill with superior imagination…”

So if you want to find out more about our creative samba magic, go read it!

The New York Times also asks: “If not Brazil, who?” They list many teams that can become champions this year. Even so the text about Brazil is very nice and starts like this:

“To call Brazil the favorite is to say that Gisele Bundchen is a bit of a looker. They are not just favored to win, they are favored to dazzle while doing it. So overwhelming are the odds for Brazil to capture its sixth World Cup that conspiracy theorists are out-contorting David Blaine to come up with a reason not to hand the Cup to the Brazilians before they step onto the field.”

I suggest you go there to see if your team is listed and what does it say about it. About Argentina, for an example the text go like this: “…So why are they so loathed? Could it be because the team has more drama queens than “Desperate Housewives” — players who dive and fake injuries when someone sweats a little too close to them? Or because they often mistake an opponent’s legs for the ball (they earned a tournament-high 45 yellow and 4 red cards in 18 qualifying matches)?”

About Italy the text starts with this: “With the Italians, you don’t know whether to laugh or cry. For years, the Azzurri have sung the blues about the injustices they’ve suffered at the hands of corrupt foreign referees. How ironic, then, that a match-fixing scandal has implicated their own World Cup referee, as well as all sorts of Italian suits.”

Before picking on me about the texts, please don’t forget that I didn’t write the article, ok? His name is David Hirshey, from the NYT. Good reading everyone!!!

Tags: Brazil, magic, New York Times, Ronaldinho Gaucho, samba, Tostão

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 43 comments.

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By Claudio | June 6th, 2006 at 8:29 am

94 – 70 = 24. 24 years without a cup. That’s pretty gay, here in Brazil the number 24 has a direct association with gay things.

Noboy wants to be number 24 around here

Posted from Brazil

By Futahaguro | June 6th, 2006 at 9:00 am

I guess being from the US, but with a Brazilian dad, I don’t have any fierce support for a team but it sure is amusing to read about those who do:) As far as I am concerned, I don’t care who wins the damn thing, as long as it is a fun match to watch! Ugly defensive teams can go home now as far as I am concerned.

Posted from United States

By guigo80 | June 6th, 2006 at 9:49 am

marco, all these things that you it remember makes us to believe that really the fate is finding way of fix that match in Sarriá and finally to rever one more time the kings of that age such as Falcao, Zico, Sócrates, Cerezo etc

By xyz | June 6th, 2006 at 10:07 am

BRA is the best.
I love your….

Posted from China

By dino | June 6th, 2006 at 11:19 am

Pundits,critics and fans of the Beautiful Game love ,even if they deny it,Brasil. It stands for excellence in the sport. Other teams are good but not as magical as Brasil. You know what I am saying is true. There is truly something galactical when the Brasilians touch the Adidas ball. It is a thing of beauty. They have a good record-cinco {five}copas{cups}. I am not saying they are invincible-just fantastic to watch. So enjoy Brasil and the other teams. Do not quibble and argue. Peace and Viva Brasil,amigos del mundo.

Posted from Canada

By Euler | June 6th, 2006 at 2:51 pm

Very nice Dino! I feel that too! Thanks!!!

By Denis Susac | June 6th, 2006 at 3:38 pm

HEY BRAZILL!!! HOW ARE YOU!!!

oh it almost time!! MY Croatia VS Brazil June 13th!! its gonna be a great match I hope we do good, like croatian coach said, hope brazil has a bad day..

Remember the tie, Croatia vs Brazil, 1-1..It was just a friendly but those are the kinds things that give teams like mine confidense. Who was it that scored for brazil that day?? Kaka???Adriano??We’ll it was a freekcik so I hope my beloved croatia stop fouling close to the box…lol

Anyways its going to be a great match…Goodluck..

Idemo Hrvati!!!

Posted from United States

By Euler | June 6th, 2006 at 4:39 pm

It will certainly be a thrilling match, Denis!!! But I hope Brazil have a goood day!!! He he he.

By persian | June 6th, 2006 at 10:08 pm

marco stop relying on history because this today not the past. i hope brazil
wont have have drought again. Stop looking at the past and look at the now

Posted from United States

By Clare and Jessica | June 6th, 2006 at 10:18 pm

Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi Brazil we’ve had enough of your winning streak. We’ve also had enough of your women distracting every soccer team with thier femaile assets.

Wer’e gonna win this year
Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi

Posted from Australia

By matilda | June 6th, 2006 at 11:27 pm

Nice comment Dino.

For any football fan, Brazil is a joy to watch. Unfortunately, the overblown media hype rubs people up the wrong way.

p.s Clare and Jessica your enthusiasm is great… completely unrealistic, but great. Just getting out of the Group Stage, after 32 years in the World Cup wilderness, would be a fantastic achievement for us.

Posted from Australia

By rescorpione17 | June 7th, 2006 at 9:35 am

Hey .. Euler good catch with that magazine which is part of my big collection for this year WC..it is good to be confident and somehow in love with the beauty of what you do even more so when other people tell you that as well ..my only thing about Brasilian players and fans is to define when all of that becames narcisicism which is ,at least to me, one of the biggest turn off when too predominant in somebody’s traits..i wish all of you a great cup and may your dreams come true …myself already happy to be able to enjoy watching my consecutive 11th cup….no matter who will win ..but please know that my heart beats for The Azzurri ………hoping that our “heros” will finally overcome their shortcomings and do something to be proud of….

Posted from United States

By persian | June 7th, 2006 at 7:27 pm

no one plays in friendlies brzil could beat crotia if they wanted to

Posted from United States

By Introuble | June 7th, 2006 at 11:58 pm

As most of you say, its fantastic to watch Brazil playing!

For those who say we dont watch others’ matches,what do you say about last Confederation Cup final?

There’s a lot of people saying that 1982 nightmare will be repeated. But the point is: we have the best players in the world, we’ve won every tournament since the last world cup, we’ve almost killed argentina, we have a player that can reach Pelé’s level in a few years, we have a good coach(not as good as Scolari, but Parreira has already won a cup, so he knows the road to the success)… so what do you want us to say? that we’re not favorites? that we’ll lose the first three matches and go home earlier?

Its the life.. you dont have to criticize or even understand.. just accept it! ;D

(Sorry for being too fanatic, but that’s what i think)

Posted from Brazil

By matt | June 8th, 2006 at 12:43 am

As we all know the only way to predict the future is to look at the past, and Brazil’s past is very impressive. Theres no way I would bet against them to win… but everyone knows that giants fall harder .

Posted from Canada

By Keyser | June 8th, 2006 at 10:44 am

I don’t see many sides who can stop Brazil. Argentina & Italy for sure can do so. Perhaps Germany & England. Holland in a very good day maybe.
Each time I think that Juninho is on the bench because there is no more space left in the startingline up I get a cold down my spine…

By 6 x Champions | June 9th, 2006 at 4:53 am

argentinians, italians, frenchs, germans, portugueses, englishes… anyway….

WE GONNA ROCK YOU BABE !!!

BRAZIL, SIMPLY THE BEST, THE GOLDEM TEAM

NUMBER 1 BABE !!!

Posted from Brazil

By lee | June 9th, 2006 at 7:58 am

Brazil is perfect. I love this team , I love this game. We hope that someday the World cup will come to china.

Posted from China

By Gustavo | June 9th, 2006 at 8:07 am

The 2006 brazilian team is the best since ´82. Even though we lost back then, im pretty confident we are going to win this time. The team is pretty solid, and the focus of its strength is in the midfield with Ronaldinho and Kaka, two brilliant creative midfielders. This is much better than having the focus on the strikers like in ´94 with Romario and Bebeto. This leads to the most beatiful soccer to watch, just like the Pelé, or Zico, or Maradona generation. Also, the tactical posture of Brasil has never been so offensive, the same coach Parreira in ´94 was a lot more cautious. So, i believe that if we win the World Cup, it will set Brasil as the hegemonic strength of the game, and it will glorify the best soccer style of all: the generous, creative, offensive, and joyfull style. It will be good for Brasil and for the sport.

There are only two teams that can win this World Cup besides Brasil: Argentina and England.

Can you imagine a Brasil X Argentina final match for example? It will be the most fantastic show on the planet!!!

By Euler | June 9th, 2006 at 9:48 am

Clare and Jessica are invited to cheer for us if Australia don’tmake it. At least we share the colors of the uniforms

By Jessica | June 9th, 2006 at 11:15 am

Yes we share the colours,
Go green and gold!
But…
unfortunately for you we are just true AUSSIE supporters!
Go Australia~!!!!!

So… that’s ok!

Posted from Australia

By 6 x Champions | June 9th, 2006 at 6:12 pm

yeah yeah… like france in 2002?

oh, i forgot, france DIDNT WON A SINGLE ONE IN 2002 !!!

LOL

Posted from Brazil

By Keyser | June 9th, 2006 at 6:51 pm

Gustavo, I can’t agree with you more. A Brazil-Argentina would be the most amazing final we can imagine.

By ? | September 2nd, 2006 at 7:05 am

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Posted from United States

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Posted from United States

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