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European Challenge

June 9th, 2006 | By: Euler Costa | 30 Comments »

Isn’t it a bit paradoxical that most people call our team ‘favorites’ while most people believe that it is nearly impossible for a South American team to win in Europe? I was just watching the 1958 World Cup film and it got me wondering… at some point the narrator says something like “…by now the Brazilians were the favorites…” and a flash of hope dazed me a bit. Of course I have seen this film more than once before but now that the World Cup is so near this favoritism issue is giving me headaches and whenever I hear this word some emotion crosses my heart in a different way.

A lot of people call for the 1982 WC to say that Brazil does not win when considered favorites and, as much as I believe this time it is a different situation, the ghosts are still haunting me, naturally. But then we see that is common sense the fact that no South American can win in Europe. Here in this blog I’ve read once or twice this false statement. We all know that Brazil won in Sweden against the host team in 1958, right? And here is when we’ll hear people saying ‘that was a long time ago’ or something.

Zico failed So here we have a bunch of paradoxical feelings going on. Should or shouldn’t I look for the past? Can we win in Europe like in 1958 or should I dismiss the past? Favorite Brazil can’t win like in 1982 or should we dismiss the past? I believe that in this World Cup there is no room for tradition, taboos or old statistics. We will see many teams breaking all the rules from deliverance to the fall, from the battle and the heat to our triumph and defeat, as Pete used to sing at full lungs. Only one tradition I would like to see intact: Brazil at the final match.

BBC says statistics are against us but agrees that South Americans are more prepared than ever.

Tags: 1958, 1982, Brazil, challenge, Europe, European, favorites, film, paradoxal, South American

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 30 comments.

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By Euler | June 9th, 2006 at 6:57 pm

Good point Vin. That is why there are so many theories about our team too. Everyone is looking for a formula to beat us. For the other teams it is a glory hunt every time they play against us.

It’s not easy to be a Brazilian fan. But is very good at the same time, as Zé said. We gather in front of a screen with our hearts in our mouths.

By the way, who mentioned the USA? The BBC article is only about South Americans vs. Europeans after all.

By JAIRZINHO | June 9th, 2006 at 7:27 pm

THE USA IS PLAYNG TO ISNT???THEY THINK THEY HAVE A CHANCE…TO WIN…I GUESS MIRACLES CAN HAPPEN

Posted from United States

By JAIRZINHO | June 9th, 2006 at 7:29 pm

I DONT THINK BRAZIL PLAY THE WAY THEY PLAY JUST TO MANTAIN A LEGACY…BRAZILIAN DONT CARE ABOUT THAT….THEY PLAY LIKE THAT BECAUSE THEY HAVE PASSION FOR WHAT THEY DO…PASSION…FOR SOCCER…

Posted from United States

By zé | June 9th, 2006 at 7:33 pm

Everybody who’s playing think they have a chance to win. If they didn’t they wouldn’t even bother going to the WC. This is football, afterall. Why are you singling out USA, Jairzinho?

Mina: he was probably just talking about which *continent* has more titles, no?

Posted from Brazil

By Roland | June 9th, 2006 at 8:36 pm

Why shouldn’t Brazil win in Europe? Half their team plays there on a regular basis.

Posted from United States

By marcos | June 9th, 2006 at 8:42 pm

Brazil : 5
Uruguay : 2
Argentine : 2
South America : 9

Italy : 3
Germany : 3
England : 1
France : 1
Europe : 8

By Euler | June 9th, 2006 at 11:08 pm

Not only half, Roland. 20 out of 23. I hope this will help us now.

By juan Nunez | June 9th, 2006 at 11:24 pm

BRAZIL,

BEST

TEAM

EVER!!!

Posted from United States

By Kern | June 10th, 2006 at 12:12 am

Oh man… when Croatia beats you guys, well… just promise not to cry. (but Good Luck and Good Game)

Posted from Canada

By zé | June 10th, 2006 at 12:19 am

@Marcos: Oh yeah, I forgot about Uruguay, I had my head on Brazil and Argentina. Duh.

Posted from Brazil

By Miguelinho | June 10th, 2006 at 12:32 am

Forget that bull! South Americans have only won once in Europe?

Well . . . Europeans have NEVER, EVER (NOT EVEN ONCE) won outside Europe. So there ya go. The point is: There’s one team that’s won it in Europe and South America (and Asia, as a matter of fact). That team is Brazil.

Posted from United States

By Miguelinho | June 10th, 2006 at 12:33 am

… And of course North America in 1994. And when the World Cups start hitting Africa, I think Brazil will do it there too.

Posted from United States

By Benny(Frankfurt) | June 10th, 2006 at 1:48 am

Brazil is the best team of the whole world…everybody knows that…but it is difficult to many people to live with this…winning or giving another team the chance to be the champion….Brazil will be the best forever…just learn how to live with the reality….

Posted from United States

By Benny(Frankfurt) | June 10th, 2006 at 1:54 am

Brazil dictated the new era in soccer (football) after 1970 with this team:

Felix 1
Brito 2
Piazza 3
Carlos Alberto 4
Clodoaldo 5
Everaldo 6
Jairzinho7
Tostao 8
Gerson 9
Pele 10
Rivelino 11

after showing this team to the world we decided that no one in the globe would be better than us….ever….6 games….6 victories….

Posted from United States

By Gustavo | June 10th, 2006 at 6:37 am

Here is another interesting statistic. Germany always wins when being the host, and always beating the favorite team in the finals. It happened in ´54 against Hungary and in ´74 against Holland. Do you think they will beat Brasil in the finals? I don´t think so.

And if no south american can win in Europe, well in that case Argentina is out too, and the path is clear for England. But I don´t trust those statistics, I want a south american to win! If not Brasil, then our most beloved rival Argentina! Or even better, Ecuador! =D

By Euler | June 10th, 2006 at 6:55 am

If not Brazil, Ecuadorrrr!!!! It would really be nice to see that ‘European only’ issue broken again.

By Josimars | June 10th, 2006 at 5:30 pm

England has just shown why Brazil can’t win the World Cup. England is going to use Peter Croouch as the target man to knock back balls to Owen and Lamapard and Brazil wont be able to handle that . It aint pretty but very effective

By Akbar | June 10th, 2006 at 11:31 pm

I don’t think people realise exactly how strong Brazil are until they see them playing a respectable team.

Everyone thinks they know how to beat the Seleçao, but very few can actually do it, simply because Brazil will never let you have the ball, and they’ll keep you running back desperately into defence.

All these Peter Crouch, Lampard and Owen characters are useless if they don’t have the ball, and Brazil isn’t giving it to them.

Brazil will fly into the finals, only to be beaten by one of the few teams who CAN beat them: the Albiceleste.

It’s looking like Argentina ‘06

(If anyone, then it’s the Czech Republic that can tackle Brazil. Germany, Italy, England and France can all forget it.)

Posted from Switzerland

By BIG D | June 11th, 2006 at 12:45 pm

robo crouch 4 the win, half man, half robot, all english COME ENGLAND

Posted from United Kingdom

By BIG D | June 11th, 2006 at 12:46 pm

bolox ON

Posted from United Kingdom

By BIG D | June 11th, 2006 at 12:48 pm

ahh wot do the swiss know bout football?

Posted from United Kingdom

By BIG D | June 11th, 2006 at 12:53 pm

Its ENGLAND 06 nd U KNOW IT because its It’s Neville to Terry, Terry to Rio,
Rio to Joey, Joey Gerrard.
Gerrard to Beckham, Beckham to Crouchy, Crouchy to Owen
To goal, 5-1 BRING ON THE KAIZERS

Posted from United Kingdom

By Alessandro | June 11th, 2006 at 4:40 pm

England sucks, kick and rush garbage… You invented the game, Latin nations invented how to play it with style…

By Euler | June 12th, 2006 at 5:30 am

England is a big joke until now. I can only hope Brazil do a better job than that. A red nose would not be a problem to the English side due to the flag colors right?

By persian | June 12th, 2006 at 11:11 pm

ENGLAND CANT EVEN SCORE A GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JUST RELYING ON AN OWN GOAL PITFUL.

BLOODY ENGLAND WONT WIN lol
5-1 yea rite i think brazil will murder them 4-1

Posted from United States

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