Do Brazilians know how to lose?

You bring up an interesting comparison by referring to the French success around the turn of the century. After their Eurocup win, the French seemed like the team to beat, with Zidane as the infallible footballer. And yet, the French turned out to be the greatest disappointment of the last World Cup. The laws of gravity will soon take its effect on Brazil.

Posted from  United States

Augustina is right. That is my fear. Zidane and his mates didn’t score one goal at Japan-Korea. But we are really demanding. We must get this one too, he he he.

Posted from  Brazil

Brasilians never gets content with anything less then the 1st place. The people here expects the best from it’s team. I do believe that we do expect too much from the team.

Let’s also remember that Brazil have made it to the last 3 world cup finals, winning twice (against Italy and Germany) and losing once to France.

Brazilians, (and most of the younger generations) don’t really remember a World Cup Final that was not Brazil vs a European football power.

Will the trend be broken this year? Or, will we end up seeing Brazil vs England or Portugal?

Have Brazil set the bar so high that not even they can reach it?

Posted from  Canada

Let me be a bit more concrete on why I do not think Brazil will win in 2006: the European audience. Brazil is, at the moment, the greatest holder of World Cup titles. In nations were football is starting to emerge (ie. Asia), Brazil is marketed to great success. When I travelled through Asia, the only football jerseys you would see were either the Brazilian national, or the Real Madrid Beckham jersey. To the emerging markets, Brazil and football are synonymous. So, naturally, the stadium audience of predominantly Asian population cheered the Brazilian team. In a stadium where the audience is predominantly European, they will cheer on the European team. Home-court advantage (and the additional endorphin rush that it provides) will tip the scale against Brazil. If you need a further example, look at the last World Cup qualifier between Argentina-Brazil played at the end of 2004. The Argentine audience in the Monumental stadium helped break the stride of the Brazilian footballers.

Posted from  United States

I don’t know, Augustina. Brazil just won the Confederations Cup in Germany. It was a cool test to the Seleção (selection). And when you say that Brazil is marketed to great success at emerging countries, it’s just because the team is really succesful. It shows in European media too. When you see the ads on TV announcing the Italian or Spanish championships, you see images of all those great Brazilian players also. And the top selling jerseys of Real Madrid and Barcelona are probably of Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.

Sometimes the audience can really make a difference, but to use that game in Argentina is not a very good example, because that stadium is well known as nerve-breaking. I believe Brazil can win, as long as they find some way to keep their feet on the ground.

Posted from  Brazil

Maybe if they played any competition in the first round and if soccer wasnt fixed to expand the market they would lose…and the only reason they were point leaders in this qualifying is because that was also fixed since argentina eliminated colombia by letting uruguay win. Soccer is turning into boxing, marketing being the objective.

Why didnt they name Germany and Brazils groups this world cup Group EZ PASS???

Posted from  United States

Fixed results? Conspiracy all around? C’mon! There are easyer groups! Don’t forget that Japan and Croatia have recently give Brazil a hard time. Look for the facts! Croatia tied the match 1:1 last time the 2 played, not to mention that they were third place in 1998 World Cup. Japan tied 2:2 at the 2005 Confederations Cup. It is trained by Brazilian Zico and is the Asian champion. But I can understand why do you believe Brazil is “chosen” to win more often, simply because it wins more often.

Posted from  Brazil

Come on my friend. Name one group easier than Brazils group. Tell me why when Ronaldinho gets fouled it looks like a TV commercial for Nike and hes on the center of the camera for 5 minutes. Its turning into a joke. O and by the way it really doesnt matter whos coaching you can have Pele as the coach doesnt mean you are going to win anything. You know that Brazil can win there group without even sweating they might as well bring there under 20 team to play the first round.

Posted from  United States

You can look for yourself, mate. The BBC sport site is very complete and you can read people’s opinions there. You can read what every coach have to say about their group. Easy task. If you love the game, you’ll be looking all over for information. And I bet you will root for Brazil too. For or against, but you won’t be indifferent. That’s what “the Selection” does to people.

Don’t forget to come back after reading BBC’s site. Here is the only place where you can read all about our side of the story! Here you will learn how can Brazil loose! he he he (maybe)

hahahaha thats funny i dont need to read BBC of course they are gonna b.s. the fans. Just so it doesnt look obvious. be honest with yourself Croatia-Australia-Japan=NOBODIES

Posted from  United States