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Japan is no Ghana

June 23rd, 2006 | By: Euler Costa | 80 Comments »

Gordo is Back Brazil played very well against Japan. If you read the live blog master Bob did you may think the match was boring. I totally disagree. The team was twice as fast as the previous one. Cicinho did a great job even having failed to cover the Japanese attack in the first goal. To give you an idea of what I’m talking about take a look in this little nugget of statistics: by the 21st minute of the match the amazing Kawaguchi had already made 5 spectacular saves. Ronaldo (6’), Robinho (10’ and 13’), Ronaldo again (19’) and Juninho (21’). Thrilling! The Japanese goal at 34’ just added more flavor to the show.

The match was nice to watch mainly because there was no drama involved. We knew our place in the next round was guaranteed and it was only a matter of time to secure the first place in the group, in other words, party time with no heartache. I must confess that I’m surprised with Parreira’s line up. He usually is very conservative and stubborn, but he changed a lot of players. I got what I wanted, Cicinho and Juninho Pernambucano. On top of that we had Robinho creating the mobility our team needs to display the true Brazilian style.

Juninho Maestro I can only hope that Parreira will do what it takes to keep playing at this level. Normally I would say that he will bring the old team back but after his decision to change the team so much I don’t know what to expect.

At the end of the match he used Ricardinho and Zé Roberto within his defensive style; the one most people here in Brazil love to hate. We were joking that Parreira was upset with so many goals and decided to hit the brakes of the team. More than once I said “they’re end up giving the ball back to the goalkeeper” and it really happened. Someone on TV said “maybe he wants to spare Zico a bigger humiliation”. Another said “it’s ok to secure the result now and rest the players”. I can’t agree. I don’t like Ricardinho, but I understand Parreira’s decision to use him at that moment, but they could keep attacking. What harm would it bring? It was an easy match, despite the super Japanese goalkeeper.

I know people will say I’m too demanding on the team and the coach, but I’m just being honest. The Brazilian side had 60% of the ball possession, reaching 72% at one time. The team shot 21 times with 14 going for the goal, almost five times the Japanese chances (3 shots on goal). Now tell me if this game was any hard. On top of that, the match was soft in terms of fouls. Japan did 9 and Brazil 6. In their last match (USA), Ghana did more then twice that alone (32)!

Beware of the Tacklers Against Ghana it is a completely different tale. Brazil woke up, but the challenge now is much greater and much more dangerous too. They are the number one foul perpetrators in this World Cup!!! They committed 76 fouls until now! They received 12 yellow cards! They know how to score (4 goals) and they are fast and strong. Now they seem to be happy about this clash. The African Brazilians are very motivated, believe me. Look what Stephen Appiah said: “We are representing the whole continent of Africa and that’s great. We are not afraid of any team. We are Africa’s Brazil.”

I’ll pray that Parreira don’t let this win over Japan fool the Seleção. We must face them with respect and seriousness. For Ghana it is the most important match in their lives. We must deal with it the same way. Our players must get their hearts ready to play a hard match. Violence is expected, unfortunately. Again I hope that the referees do a good job keeping the fair play secured. At least we have a nice bench, just in case.

Tags: Brazil, Carlos Alberto Parreira, Cicinho, fair play, Ghana, glory, Japan, Juninho Pernambucano, Ricardinho, Robinho, violence, yellow cards, Zé Roberto

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Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 80 comments.

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By Ghana-dinho | June 26th, 2006 at 11:42 pm

To Thomasdinho:
Oh I see. now you are from Portugal’s Heritage. No more Brazil, Oh yes.

Are these not the same THIEVES from Portugal who came to STEAL Africa’s Gold in Ghana, Angola etc?
Now I got you THIEVES!!!

Go and tell your folks to return the gold and diamonds from Africa. If you are going to accuse others of cheating, at least have the decency to be HONEST yourself!

You colonial Thieves!!

Posted from United States

By Euler | June 27th, 2006 at 12:40 am

I agree 100% with Zé. No reason to be aggressive to everybody if one guy is upsetting you. He was aggressive too, I understand, but you know it is not the general feeling around here.

We here in Brazil usually are very proud to be a nation with a great mix of backgrounds. Strong Spanish, many African nations, Portuguese, Dutch, French, Chinese, Japanese, Germans, Italians… among others, including native-Brazilians.

Not only that, but with our great tradition in football we learned to respect every opponent. Anybody can win tomorrow. My prediction: Brazil 3 Ghana 2.

By ranjit | June 27th, 2006 at 1:45 am

the great part about the first round, in fact the only great part is that we get to see african nations playing. who can forget the promise shown by nigeria after kicking spain out by a 3-2 margin?

ghana has grown by leaps and bounds. had their 3rd game been against italy, i wonder who would have won by the 0-2 margin!

as for brasil, they can be beaten if this is all they have, and are been patient about shifting into a higher gear.

ghana will have to post 2 very quick goals and keep the ball. they have one player essien who can orchestrate the holding on, but less than 2 first goals will not do it.

then again, this may be a good come from behind team. either way i am looking forward to a good game.

GOGHANA!

Posted from United States

By Ghana-dinho | June 27th, 2006 at 1:55 am

Euler, Did you not remember that you INFLAMED this whole thing by saying Ghanaians are arrogant?

You should have read the INFLAMATORY message Thomasdinho was writing all over the Blogs about cheating Ghanaians. I could not take the words of that this Semi-Ratard deranged lunatic no more. I have to give it back to him.

Posted from United States

By Zé | June 27th, 2006 at 3:35 am

Ghana-dinho: read my comment again.

If he was offensive or arrogant, and I firmly believe he was, you are more than right to point that right after he did so. Discuss it with him, reply to his comment.

Coming to a different article on a different blog to inform everybody of your superiority (or our inferiority for that matter) is a different thing though.

You are not giving it back to him - you are giving it back to everybody who wasnt even related to it for starters. You are just being as arrogant as he is — its just poison.

Posted from Brazil

By Ghana-dinho | June 27th, 2006 at 3:48 am

ZE:
Who made you judge here by the way?
READ THIS BLOG CAREFULLY if you dont know what I am talking about.

Posted from United States

By looking for good, fair football | June 27th, 2006 at 5:53 am

Do some of you even watch football ……. Yeh, I know, you ALWAYS watch the world cup when it comes on??

To the idiots, the hate mongers, cowards and full-time fools - Ghana will give Brazil everything they can handle and more!!

When you remove the color of their skin and get fair refereeing, they are excellent, period. Ghana could beat Brazil and decisively too. Only the emotionally, socially inept, will lose sight of this thru their child-like, family ingrained biases.

OK next…..

Typical euro or euro-descendant trash…… full of the “fear” of the black man …… but not so when he/she wants their music or when they have a need to be “cool” - so we act like them …….. what a farce and a loser(s)!!! I can see this euro-trash (and others) trying to be black at the disco’s or god forbid at the Carnival or Mardi Gras…….HAVING A GREAT TIME using the black culture!!

As for Brazil…..

Brazil, the country where most of their BEST players are black and the POPULAR SIDE of so-called Brazilian culture, is black too. Take away this and other AFRICAN contributions and what is Brazil??…….. another boring, white, pasty, euro state.

Christ ….if you were so proud of your white culture, then STOP the taking, copying, imitating and mimicking the black culture – trash boy. Your life would be boring.

Oh by the way, copying Elvis (or the Beatles…) is copying black culture still, ass-wipe.

To whomever runs this ship and has any brains or balls, to ban these so-called proud white people who are quick to act black (like the hypocrites they are) when needed - out of here and off this site!!

Posted from Canada

By RD | June 27th, 2006 at 6:23 am

EULER and ZE

(1) To Euler:
How many Ghanaians do you know in person before you wrote this?

June 26th, 2006 at 3:44 am
“It’s clear to me that the people from Ghana is starting to lose grip on reality. That is normal. They are new to this great competition and after passing trough the first stage they are getting arrogant.”

Let us forget Thomasdinho for now.

(2) TO ZE: Here is the problem on this Blog. There have been RACISTS and personal attacks made by others towards Ghanaians here on the Blog to begin with.! But everyone was silent!

When Ghana-dinho RESPONDED the same style, you say he is poisoning the place. Just read this Blog from the bigining. Even Euler is NOT an innocent by-stander. He is part of the problem!!

Ghana just entered the World Cup this year. Cheating, Diving has been done by South Americans all these years before even Ghana came here!!!. Just ask Djunga, Cafu and Socrates of Brazil. We wont even discuss Maradonna the God’s Hand Goal.

Euler, your name sounds German. How did the Germans and Austrians treat poor Algeria in World Cup 1982?

THIS IS WHAT PISSES AFRICANS-OFF!!
Everybody does something. Africans do it and they get insulted RACIALLY. Just look on this Blog. Bad things were written by Thamasdinho and Euler against Ghana.
And Ghana-dinho RESPONDS back. And ZE, who do you seem to be blaming? Of course Ghana-dinho for poisoning the place.

You see the HYPOCRICY here again?

Posted from United States

By Thomas K. | June 27th, 2006 at 6:42 am

Greetings everybody, first of all, brazil is way too overrated. They had hard work in the first 2 games, japan scored them a goal, so they are not invulnerable, and ghana is much faster as the shortlegged japaneese, so i think in couters they will make much trouble. Ghana defends very well, still brazil has a good chance to score.
So it will be a tough game. Both teams controll the ball very vell, are fast, and hardly get tired.
The ball is round, 22 players on the field and 90 minutes to play.

Good luck Ghana!

By ASHUR | June 27th, 2006 at 6:54 am

I am not a Brazilian. I am an Iraqi living in Canada, but I don’t think there is a more passionate Brazil soccer fan as I am.

I am here to defend Brazilian soccer and Brazil in general.

To all the Ghana or Brazil haters: stop your hating and jealousy. Even if Brazil loses, you know we are better than all of you. It will take you decades before you have the right to take shot at great Brazil.

You may win tommmorow, after all, why are you even playing if you have no chance of winning. But winning the game tommorow won’t make you better than Brazil. Only way to be Brazil, is if the year is at least 2075, and even that is still not guaranteed.

Long live Brazil
Long live Sampa
Long live Selecao
Long live Beautiful Soccer

Finally, I would like to close by saying that most Iraqis love Brazil.

Guys don’t forget to say your little prayer for Brazil tonight. God is with them as he has always been.

Posted from Canada

By vic* | June 27th, 2006 at 6:58 am

To RD - When you write ask-Djunga, Cafu and Socrates-what do you mean? Please clarify, because Socrates will most likely remain one of the gentleman soccer-players in the history; so what do you mean?
As far as, to everybody else - I’d like to say: guys , please take it easy; of course it’s football, arguments might get bit escalated, but there is no reason to look for an insult in every word.
As for me, I hope that Brasil will beat not only Ghana but also everybody else in the WC and become champions once again. I mean, they are the only american team who managed to take the wc from Europe once before(1958) and if they play their game they’ll do it again. C’mon Perreira let the guys play…

Posted from United States

By Rippi Rekhi | June 27th, 2006 at 8:41 am

So here the deal, Brasil can win this game but they need to play well on both ends. Ghana is going to work on playing a scoring game verus of focusing on defense. We all know Brasil can score but they need to be equally strong in the back. Even though Brasil only allowed one goal in first rounds, they need to player alittle tighter. Australia could have easily scored against thier defense but luck was not on thier side that day.( thank god )

This game will be the toughest match brasil has faced in this world cup. Ghana is fast and are very aware of brasilian style of play. But Brasil can walk away with a victory if they constantly play strong defense and play smart team orriented soccer.

We saw a good team work against Japan , we need to see the same thing againt Ghana. There is no need for a hero to win this game just smart soccer for all 11 brasilian players on the field

Posted from United States

By Rafael | June 27th, 2006 at 8:51 am

Brazil is worried about Ghana, but they are also worried about the fouls and injuries Ghana will probaly do on brazilian players.

I hope the game have a good referee.
Ghana also have the disvantage because every referee in the world knows how both teams play and Ghana will have problems with fouls and simulating.

Brazil always lose on Olympics Games and juniors, this is diferent, this is the World Cup.

Of course Ghana can win tomorrow, but they will have to prove they disarve to win, not only by the score.

By kat | June 27th, 2006 at 9:34 am

i am hoping that this will be a great game.

win or lose. Brazil’s the team I choose.

Posted from Philippines

By Euler | June 27th, 2006 at 12:21 pm

My name may sound German, but I am 100% Brazilian: proud to be a mixed result of many heritages. Don’t call me racist. You don’t know me.

I said that the people from Ghana are starting to get arrogant, that’s all. I said that because of what I’ve read on the news and here in this blog.

I’m won’t answer agressive comments about me nor about what anybody writes here. I stand behind everything I wrote so far.

By RD | June 27th, 2006 at 3:13 pm

Euler,
You dont know Ghanaians personally, but you are calling them arrogant as a group of people. That is my point.

I dont think all Americans / Brazillians should also be judged just because of a few things I read on a Blog or saw somewhere on TV. You get my point?

Since you dont want to say it, I will tell you what happened in 1982 World Cup.

W. Germany and Austria teams were DIVING, lying on the ground, wasting time, kicking the ball from center to the sides. These two teams DO NOT want poor ALGERIA to qualify for the next stage! So they misbehaved on the field very very badly.
That is Why FIA WANTS the last 2 matches in each groub to be played AT THE SAME TIME!

These time wasting tricks was there long before the Ghana team came here to the World Cup. And who have been playing in World Cup all these years? Is that not South Americans and Eupepeans with only 2/3 African countries until recently? .

Posted from United States

By RD | June 27th, 2006 at 3:15 pm

Mistake.
I mean FIFA not “FIA” in my last 4 lines.

Posted from United States

By Euler | June 27th, 2006 at 3:27 pm

Exactly, I only know what I read here and what the players and technical comission are talking. I’m not judging anyone, just reporting what I see/read.

By Zé | June 27th, 2006 at 11:54 pm

Ghana-dinho: nobody made me a judge. I’m just a human, just like you. I’m not demanding, I’m asking. If you can’t see my words for the value they have because you think I have been vested of a superior vest, please take that mask out of your face and read my comments again.

RD, If Ghana-dinho was pissed with some guy, what did he do? Complain to the guy? Reply? No, he came to this blog, and pissed back on everybody else. Then I tell him I do feel he’s being arrogant, in reply to his message - notice, not flaming him, not claiming my superiority - and all he can do is tell he’s replying from another blog - carrying flames along.

Do you see me posting trash on Ghana’s blog? No, and I do read it. Do you want me to go to their articles and reply to every single nuts/biased guy I see there? And the same went for Australia’s and Croatia’s blog, even though we got a lot of flame from supporters of both teams.

Tomasdinho (et al) posts are inflamatory. But the thing is, it starts here and ends here - people barely care about it becayse they know it’s full of nothing. It’s no good complaining because it’s just a match quick that burns and goes away. Now, if a supporter of other team that will play Brazil next comes here and unloads a feature list saying how they rule and we’re doomed, it’s bothing both flame bait — Brazil supporters reading the Brazil blog will jump on it and produce nothing but an ugly fight (which, as you can see, has already started). Hence why it’s poison - it’s just an invitation for trolling.

Since we are not face to face, arguments will always catch up for one reason or the other. It’s the reality of the internet. However, the least I would expect for rational people to do is to stop feeding trolls with generic comments that aim even at people who were nothing but respectful. This includes not coming to any given team’s blog and lecturing them on how their team suck - regardless of what you actually think, doing so will do no good. And that’s what I wanted to point out after Ghana-dinho’s posts.

Posted from Brazil

By Tomasdinho | June 28th, 2006 at 1:21 am

LMAO. SO Ghanadinho and RD what happened to Ghana man. Dont know how to score? LMAO

Posted from United States

By Ribo | June 28th, 2006 at 2:33 am

Brazil beat Ghana, big deal. Ghana never had a chance. but the most exciting match is about to begin. Brazil VS France. it’s time to break the 1998 curse. It’s time for Brazil to punish France for that horrible defeat. Brazil will win against france. Brazil will beat France 4 to 0. Brazil is going to punish France.
Goooooooooooooooooooo Brazillllll

Brazillllllll all da way

Posted from United States

By RD | June 28th, 2006 at 2:37 am

ZE:
Why did you NOT point the same THING HERE after Thomasdinhos inflamatory post on This BLOG? I am not saying other BLOGS. I am saying ON THIS BLOG.

Go to the first Thamasdhinho’s comments HERE on THIS BLOG. Would you also like to respond to him please about his choice of words on GHANAIANS?

BRAZIL-GHANA : I saw that match Ghana played better BUT Brazil Scored. Bottom line. Watch the 2nd Goal. After that 2nd (FAKE GOAL) Ghana has no more choice.
I only hope people do not go and insult all BRAZILIANS for CHEATING. It was the Refree’s fault. Not Brazil!
I also hope Ghana-dinho does not go out there inflaming Brazil people with bad language for CHEATING. This has been my point ALL ALONG.
(1) Thomasdinho isulted Ghanaians here on this BLOG and you ZE had AMNESIA on that. (Could not remember -illness)
(2) Ghana-dhinho RESPONDED in kind and your memory is as FRSH as ever on that! Why that?

Posted from United States

By Ghana-dinho | June 28th, 2006 at 9:17 am

Thomadinho:
I will tell a REAL BRAZILIAN when I see him about Ghana Brazil game. Someone from the Amazon-Forest and Jungle!!

You see, I am from Safari Park Jungle and you dont seem to like our football. The Amazon Forest Jungleman (Real Brazilian) will understand me better!!

I dont discuss football with colonial THIEVES from Portugal like you. Gold,& Diamonds Thieves!

Posted from United States

By solash | June 28th, 2006 at 1:33 pm

You all saw it. I think FIFA has its own choice of countries it want to win the cup. But I beleive its time we Africans stop playing the world cup. Off-side goals and stupid card displaying.

Posted from Ghana