Jokes on Portugal

January 30th, 2006 | By: Euler Costa | 3 Comments »

Here in Brazil we are usued to tell Portuguese jokes. Not a very healthy habbit, but at least I’ve heard about they telling Brazillian jokes too. Always reffered to as dumb people either way. Of course we know that they are as intelligent as anybody else in the world (and I hope they feel the same way about us). Someone told me that the habbit comes from the time of the Brazilian colonization.

And while we speak the same language, we have different ways to talk. A friend of mine came back from Portugal and told me he asked a Portuguese what time does it get dark there. Here in Brazil it means ‘what time does the sun sets’. The answer was ‘It never gets dark here, because when the sun sets the city lights are turned on’. Maybe he was thinking that in Brazil we don’t have electricity.

When it comes to football, Portugal is not a joke at all. Gene Hackman Scolari guided Portugal to the final of Euro 2004 and finished their qualification group without losing any games, finishing seven points ahead of the others. After a poor 2002 World Cup participation they hold high hopes this year. The humor in this is that the Portuguese people still don’t like Scolari way of coaching. But that’s completely normal. Here we are not that fond of Parreira’s style either, but what he has been doing for the Selection can’t be denied.

Portugal has a great defense and a good attack. Manchester United’s winger Cristiano Ronaldo has been mentioned as Figo’s heir with his great talent. The truth is, since we have so much history (and Big Phil to make that link stronger) I hope Portugal gets the trophy if Brazil don’t get it.

Tags: Brazil, Cristiano Ronaldo, Figo, Gene Hackman, humor, humour, jokes, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Manchester United, Parreira, Portugal

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Comments

By fan | March 1st, 2006 at 11:24 am

I’m Portuguese and i have read your article with interest. From my experience the practice of telling jokes started in Brazil, but i think that is not an important question. I think whats important to reveal here is that it’s a minority of portuguese people who dislike Mr.Felipão. The main reason for this is that he his very strong minded and sticks to his decisions which, i feel, is a really good thing. The main issue as been that the keeper from FCPorto, Vitor Baia, as not been included in the national team sinced Scholari headed the coaching staff. A minor issue i might say since Ricardo (Sporting CP) is doing a good job (i’m a Sporting fan i might add).

And now Brazil… i think it’s undeniable that there are no better talented player in the world than the brazilian player. But everyone knows that 11 stars doesn’t make a team… thats why i liked so much players like Dunga also.. and i don’t see these kind of player in the Brazilian team anymore. I think this is the only weakness in the Brazilian system. Some lack of tactical culture. Which, i think, Portugal seems to have… let’s wait for the start of the tournament.

Posted from Portugal

By Euler | March 1st, 2006 at 6:37 pm

I’m glad to know that Big Phill is doing his job well enough to satisfy most of the Portuguese people. He faced the same critisism here in Brazil, about his stubbord mind. But 2002 showed the world that his mind has winning skills.

About the 11 stars not making a team, it was good enough to get 2005 Confederation Cup, winning Argentina 4:1 in the final.

Maybe personal talent can work together and deliver good results again in Germany. Dunga was good, but 94 was the ugliest Brazilian team I’ve ever watched. We got that Cup with Baggio kicking out far from Taffarel’s goal in the penalty kicks.

It was a pleasure to watch the 98 and 02 Selection working. The French Cup final was a health issue but since 94 we are proud to show the world the “jogo bonito”. If we lose doing that it will be almost as good as winning. Not as good, of course, but we love to see our boys (and seniors) play with joy. The opposite of what I saw today against Russia, unfortunately.

Man, this is almost a post!

Thanks for your comments, Fan!!!

By brasilsil | November 14th, 2007 at 4:46 pm

Brazil what? and that comes from a guy called brokenbutterfly? huhuahuahuahaua

Posted from United States