Expectations… Results or Beautiful Game?

So Anatoliy, I think you mean Brazil will play Ukraine in 2010 too? Or maybe 2016 since it will be knocked out by Ghana in 2010.

Posted from  Brazil

My god, it´s amazing what i´ve been reading about the brazilian team on the other countries blogs…

1-It´s really funny to see the FRENCH criticising our team… and specially our defense. After all, it must have been our defense who allowed TOGO and SOUTH KOREA to score against us… WONDERFUL, MARVELOUS defense!!!!

2-People are criticising our gameplay against ghana. Let´s just wonder here: the score was 3-0 BRAZIL, and there were 2 players injured… Now imagine if BRAZIL went full throttle, and the final score was 8-0 (which, for who watched the game, was REALLY possible), HOW MANY PLAYERS WOULD GET INJURED AFTER THE GAME? They would beat them all the way! No need for that, right?

3-GERMANY showed us today it hasn´t all that POWER everyone thought they had… Argentina simply ruled the game. And if COSTA RICA can score TWICE against them, you wonder BRAZIL (RONALDO, ROBINHO, R. GAUCHO, KAKA)!!!!!

No offense, but the brazilian team is very superior to the others, even though this doesn´t mean 100% we´ll win. But I do believe it.

Farewell, Argentina

* * * * * * HEXACAMPEAO

Dear Ze, dear euler, Dear brasilians,
now I can say this: I hope that you win the WC and you take it back to south america. I dreamt of a brazil-argentina final, but, then again, it didn’t work. i don’t blame the referee, the match was there, and instead of going and grabbing it from the throath we let germany grow and get back in the game. the rest is history.
So from now own, I’m seeing the matches until the final with the good brazilians friends I have in this city, and I hope that you’ll win.
greetings

Posted from  Belgium

EagleEye, I think much of it is due to the fact that Brazil was a big “target” before the WC, specially because its large favoritism. Of course, the people attacking it right now are the same people who fall for hype (or people who start to hate a team because of hype), so they’re not worthy paying attention.

Other teams, such as France, came from ridiculous performances and won when they usually wouldn’t so it was probably what has set their critics on fire. Brazil only won “because it had the moral obligation to do so”, so all results (even victories) are letdowns. This should change from now on, I hope.

Keyser, thanks! Yeah, I also wanted to see Brazil vs Argentina, I’ve wanted that for decades, but I guess I’ll have to wait a few more years. Argentina was unlucky with their replacements (having to replace the keeper specially). Better luck for them next time.

Totally agree, zé.

I was also looking for an argentina-brazil final, but unfortunately, it won´t be this time. I´m pretty sure I wouldn´t be able to see the end of the game, for I would die from a HEARTATTACK during the match.

It looks like we´ll have what I suspected even before the cup start(the OBVIOUS):

BRAZILxGERMANY

We´ll win.

* * * * * * HEXACAMPEAO

Quote EagleEye : Totally agree, zé.

I was also looking for an argentina-brazil final, but unfortunately, it won´t be this time. I´m pretty sure I wouldn´t be able to see the end of the game, for I would die from a HEARTATTACK during the match.

It looks like we´ll have what I suspected even before the cup start(the OBVIOUS):

BRAZILxGERMANY

We´ll win. (Quote end)

Ballack will be playing on the final this time and no Kahn this time… so…

the final
GERMANY 3 - BRAZIL 0

Posted from  United Kingdom

Sorry, IronMaiden, its ITALY VS BRAZIL. If the germans had the luck against argentina, then Italy will surely break all german fans this time. I see a bloody streets after the German-Italy match! lot of germans will be out on the streets looking for a fight.

Posted from  Philippines

hey hohw come when i leave a comment, the flag doesn’t appear?? sum 1 tell me.

what flag? cant u see the flag? right beside the word Posted from?

Posted from  Philippines

Germany VS Italy is like the Spain VS France. Inexperience VS the Experience Team. Young VS oldies playass. Italy will surely humiliate the Germans. they will surely teach the young ones when playing great teams.

Posted from  Philippines

No I’m not a Brazilian, (I’m from T&T) but have been a life-long supporter of Brazil. I never wavered in support of Ronaldo, and thought that it was a good move to try and play him into some semblance of match fitness. That however, is about the only thing that Parreira has done right in my opinion.

Please don’t get tetchy when anyone outside of Brazil suggests that this team is not firing the way that virutally everyone (except the insanely jealous) knows that they can. Yes the stas are favourable, but you don’t win matches on stats alone.

I’m a genuine fan of Brazil, and I DON’T want a repeat of the 1998 nightmare, but with your current tactics, that’s exactly what we might get.

I love Brazil when they are playing like Brazil rather than some pseudo-European team. Why is anyone outside of Brazil, supposed to care while Adriano awkwardly and selfishly lumbers around the pitch, waiting for service like he’s Ruud Van Nistlerooy? Who can take pleasure in watching Parreira put Dinho on a leash, play him in the wrong position and completely stifling his flair, creativity, attacking instinct and joy in the game?

Who (other than anti-Brazilians) could delight in the way that Kaka is being misused in the team?

Injury aside, why is Robinho sitting on the bench and what does Parreira have against him?

What is Roberto Carlos doing?

And what’s with all the long passes up the pitch ala England?

There is nothing more maddening than to watch a talented team go down because of poor coaching and a lack of nerve.

And after seeing the team who has consistently played some the best football this tournament (yes, that would be Argentina) go down because of a moment of coaching insanity and a loss of nerve - I think Brazil would be wise to pay attention to this issue.

In a critical instance, Peckerman lost faith in his own team and inexplicably tried to get them to play as if they were Italy with this ‘1-0′ ‘defend to the death’ nonsense, nevermind that they had gotten as far as they had by playing good, freeflowing, open, attacking football. But no. And now there is no possibility of a South American final…

It’s time for Brazil to retire the ghosts of 1982, and stop with the self-flagellation. It is okay (indeed necessary) for Brazil to play like Brazil. It’s not an either/or situtation and it is a false dilemma. It’s possible to balance innate flair with pragmatic play - remember, you did it before in 2002.

It’s not just the lacklustre play at this WC that is worrying, but even worse Brazil sometimes loks like a higher quality England,,,

As others have stated, Brazil has the talent to do BOTH - to play well, to play with control and to win; but you’re not going to win this WC playing on European territory, against European teams by imitating said teams.

By trying to be something you’re not (i.e. dull, uncreative and uptight)you’re jeopardising yourselves.

Come on Brazil - wake up. Rebel against Parreira if necessary. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but if France (who is no Ghana) picks up where it left off against Spain, then you are going to have to step it up.

Come on Brazil!

Posted from  New Zealand

Kelly, i don’t agree, i want to see some Jinga, i need some lovely group goals u know.
if u can’t expect that from brazil… who else?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwGBSSgr4XA

Posted from  Israel

My problem with what all that’s being said is not so much about the game being “beautiful”. Of course it helps to be able to see it in a world cup especially from a team which u know has what it takes.

The bottom line is Brazil is not playing at all…i think a lot of its win come from the fact that they were playing team that lacked their experience and their individual skills ( had Brazil played the Netherlands or Spain or Argentina)…they would have bombed…

I think the WHOLE team is not playing together….they r playing as individuals trying to score ( Kafu doesn’t pass the ball to ronaldhino, Adriano doesn’t pass the ball to ronaldo..Roberto Carlos just shoots balls out of the blue for no reason and most of the times not even near the net)…

It’s as if there s no spunk to the team no REAL desire or strive to win…they r just rolling with the punches…the only people actually trying anything r the young ones who have everything to prove like Robhino, Cicinho, Junhino, Gilberto who actually bring life to the team which seems desperatly asleep.

Preps tough for Ronaldhino becoz even if he’s not playin in the position where he could have really shown his talent, he runs the brazilian attack (the little they have so far) all the balls go trough him , he orchestrates the game and it’s nice to see he’s motivated altough in the last game against ghana he didnt seem as happy to play as the previous games…i think he s fed up with the individual play when he’s busting his balls to create opportunities for others..

I just hope they win over France tomorow…becoz i wouldnt want a repeat of 1998 (1,2,3…..0000000)

Posted from  United States

A couple good links here recapping the 1998 World Cup final…

http://www.greatsportsnews.com/brazil.php

Posted from  United States

natalia, tristan,

It seems the flag is detected client-side (I’m not sure), so sometimes it will not show up or sometimes it will show up differently for each person that is viewing a given post. Adding to it the fact that it gets it wrong a few times (showing the USA flag more than it should for example), it means the flags aren’t very accurate.

Posted from  Brazil

I think Brazil has a chance to win, but I do agree with Pat. It’s like they’re not playing at all. I mean if you’ve seen the game against Japan. If You’ve seen how those young players liki Cicinho have played. It’s like they have the winning spirit and that’s what I think players like Cafu need. However I think there’s a great chance we might be seeing that in this match against France. In my opinion this is the first team Brazil has to watch out for seeing that the previous teams have been either weak or unexperienced comparing to them.
I think they know that they’ve got to play with allot more team spirit to win this. This is gonna be tough and they know it! I think they’re really gonna step up the game. At least they have to.

Posted from  Netherlands

Aren’t you guys nervous though. I’m thinking about not watching the game and if they win then I’ll watch the reruns

Posted from  Netherlands

good luck brazil!

Posted from  Romania

Well, I’m surprised. Argentina out, England out — and nothing really to do with referees in one case, and — I regret — a rather capricious call on Rooney — certainly didn’t deserve to be sent out. I liked this very competent English side, and they took the game to the end, which was the right strategy when you’re a man short and the other team has decent skills.
If there was a problem with Argentina was the refusal to send one more man into the middle to complete the short game. They never broke through. They were overly concerned with the German counterattacks, so there never was enough threat. Now, the Greman team is not particularly skilled, so you can safely give them more in exchange for more offense.
Brazil and France? Are the Brazilians willing to run and disrupt the French flow? It’s the key. Either no balls get to Zidane or he has to play too far back. If Brazil can go up a goal or two, the game will open up to Brazil’s advantage. As to who is scheduled to start, it makes little difference.

England out…No big surprise. They were stale on offense and lacked punch in their attack. To make things worse, they played a man down. Now, how could a player afford to step on another player’s ball without getting thrown out. Talk of irresponsibility. When you play at this level, you’ve got to maintain your poise throughout the game. It’s a shame to let your team mates down.

What will it take to make penalties? 1 out of 4 tries…Come on boys. I’m sick already. Got to fill my glass and soak in France’s victory against Brazil.

Posted from  United States

I pet you American Countries will never win that world cup when ever it is held in any of those Europe countries.

Never! But i told you, If the world Cup make a mistake by going to one of the African countries, it will be there forever.

Posted from  Vanuatu

I hear everybody complaining of the poor performance by top players and teams just playing “crisis management instead of positive attacking football.” However, please keep things in perspective and realize the intensity and brutal toll the sport has on these athletes. The World Cup is undoubtadly football’s greatest spectacle. It’s also a monthlong grind, and the fatigue starts to sink in.

Games every few days, many playing under a hot, muggy sun. Travel across a country that’s almost as big as California. Pressure that grows with every game. And that’s on top of the nine months - or more - that many players just spent with the top and very demanding clubs accross Europe.

“The World Cup is a special test,” said Portugal goalkeeper Ricardo Pereira.”No matter how hard you try, you can’t completely overcome that tiredness.”

Or the injuries. Or the mental exhaustion.

Some teams manage better than others. Look at Germany, Italy, France and Portugal. They all have outstandin players but they definately do not look like it. But, they managed to outlast the other 28 teams, and it’s not only because of skill, timing and luck.

Italy is probably the strongest team mentally, able to ignore distractions from a corruption scandal that is rocking the domestic league. Despite several grueling games, Portugal has managed to remain in the tournment. France saved its energy and now looks fresher now than a month ago. And Germany is among the fittest teams after coach Juergen Klinsmann overhauled its training program.

“Physical condition is very important, because in soccer these days, 95 percent of the time the team that runs more wins,” Italy defender Gianluca Zambrotta said. “Compared to the past, soccer is much more athletic and the pace is much faster.”

When the tournament began in 1930, there were only 13 teams and it lasted two weeks. Now 32 teams play 64 games over four weeks, and qualifying begins two years out.

So give them a break and enjoy the teams from a perpective that the best crisis management team will win and not necessarily the team with the most lightning strike attack with precission pin point accuracy.

Posted from  United States

parre……….rror must go go never to coach brazil again. I mean even my own grandmother as a coach can win the World cup with BRAZIL.!

Posted from  Sweden

the joga bonito ads are quite entertaining.hehe.i say out with parreira.(too bad big phil decided to stay with portugal.bring on wanderley then)i really hope the seleçao can bounce back.i still have faith in the canarinho shirt.

Posted from  Philippines

i give props to brazil i love them im a 1 croatian fan but love brazil great performance in wc 06 but i was aliitle dissapointed with croatia vs japan they should have won that game easily and alittle disappointed with ronaldinho because he is a great player but did not really play well in wc 06 but exellent performance by brazil

Posted from  United States