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Magic Square is working!

June 21st, 2006 | By: Euler Costa | 28 Comments »

Look at Brazil Did you see the magic of our square? No? It is pure magic! It made four great players disappear!!! I just can’t help myself. I am upset. I agree with Zé that expectations were built too high for the Seleção but at the same time my heart is still hurt from such poor performances. I know that Croatia and Australia were good adversaries but I’m not talking about results here. I’m talking about performance. I already promised to eat a hat if we lose to Japan. Brazil is getting better all the time so I felt comfortable to make such promise.

I don’t think we need to win anyone with a high score, like Argentina did. I don’t think we need to play like a Nike commercial either. I just want to see our team winning without such pain. The match against Croatia was hard. Our team was slow and without any hint of the Brazilian beautiful style.

The match against Australia was even worse, if you ask me. Ronaldo was better, the team was better, the second half was good and nice. The first half was absolutely horrible! No movement, no focus, no nothing. I know that there are other ‘big’ teams with similar issues but I am Brazilian and I’m not pleased with our game. I’ve never seen Dida shooting (far) away so many times. In a good side you see the players working their way into the enemy’s defense, relying on the talent factor, passing the ball quickly, leaving the opponents behind.

Anyway, now it is the time to do some serious tests for the team. General feeling here is this: “The Brazilian team in the Confederations Cup was almost the same as this one in the WC, but guess who was NOT playing? Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Cafu! And they were replaced by Robinho, Gilberto, and Cicinho, who are all on the bench today! Came on! Its time to let the talented new generation take over after so many happy moments that Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Cafu gave us in the past! I am really thankful for these players but we can’t live in a museum. I can’t stand Juninho on the bench. How can he fit in the team with Ronaldinho and Kaka? That would be so good to watch!” Thank you Gustavo for speaking our hearts!

When I hear Cafu talking about his personal records I start to worry. Is it cool for him to have his name written in the history books or would he rather have his whole team included in the football history? While I learned another word in English (lackluster) Adriano states that he would like to play against Italy. Well, Italy was as lackluster as Brazil until now but 1982 scars are still deep. But Brazil must be strong against any team, right?

Either way, for those who insists in bashing our chances, here is an interesting fact: Brazil hasn’t scored as few as three goals in its first two World Cup matches since the 1990 tournament in Italy. Even so we reached the final match in 1998 and won in 1994 and 2002. How about that?

Tags: Argentina, Brazil, Cafu, Confederations Cup, Gustavo, Italy, jealous, Juninho Pernambucano, magic square, performance, personal record, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo, working

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 28 comments.

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By nargess | June 21st, 2006 at 11:02 pm

hi,i am a Iranian girle i love Ronaldiniho & Roberto carlose.

By nargess | June 21st, 2006 at 11:07 pm

I special love for dear ronaldiniho

By Miguelinho | June 21st, 2006 at 11:27 pm

Euler: you’re starting to sound like Chakan. I am isolated from your press coverage in Brasil, but from watching the games, I don’t think things are so bad. Remember all those times the team made you happy with strong wins (see: Chile)? Well, I think it’s time to give back. Lend your support now, and don’t fall into Nike’s Joga Bonito trap.

I would rather have them reach peak form later than play early matches beautifully and get knocked out. Don’t you agree? I think playing beautifully and getting knocked out early is going to happen to many teams this time around. Spain is not so good as they think, and Argentina only looked sharp because Serbia & Montenegro was in shambles. And Germany, well…you’ll see.

Posted from United States

By Euler | June 21st, 2006 at 11:42 pm

I don’t think I’ll be eating the hat, Martin! There is a joke on today’s newspaper involving a fictional dialog between Zico and Parreira!

Zico: Hey, my friend, I need to win the game. Can you ease up a little?

Parreira: Sure, no problem. I’ll use the subs then.

Zico: Oh no!!! Please use the starters!!!

I believe that tomorrow we’ll see tests going on. The subs will play all they can to show what they are capable of. My prediction for tomorrow is 3:0 for our side.

Nargess, you love that ugly face? Wow! I’m just kidding. He is a great player.

By Sourav | June 22nd, 2006 at 12:38 am

i would like to see one of the 2 strikers go and make room for Juninho P. Emerson/Gilberto/ZeRoberto can be focussed on spoiling and need not have to be so creative. Then Robinho can come as a sub for Juninho/ZeRoberto/orR9. Alternative would be to start him and not Juninho but I am not sure of this effect as defense will be more exposed than with Juninho. I think Ronaldo,Adriano,R10, Kaka quartet is not working except for Kaka as Adriano and R10 is saddled with defensive responsibilities that is bringing them down field and Ronaldao and Adriano are slower than expected. Kaka has been the best player and is mobile. Ronaldinho will be free to go up more with Juninho as an extra man in midfield and may be we will see more movement among the stricker(Ronaldao/Adriano), R10 and Kaka. Brazil has been too slow and static up front except Kaka. 4 upfield is not getting space with 6 defenders. Draw teams a bit deeper please. Plus bad use of dead ball so far. Juninho may be of help there. May be Cafu gets his record and makes way for Cicinho from the 2nd half of the Japan match and the rest of this tournament. It would be nice to see Gilberto get a match as well to be the replacement of Carlos. deeper midfield may also open the flanks for runs. Brazil’s touch is still too heavy and timing and movement in match situtation pressure are both off but improving. Should have played some more serious friendlies than NewZeland but no benefit crying over the past. I would prefer Ronaldao over Adriano still but Adriano would be a great sub for the tiring Phenomenon. On the positive side, defence looks almost steady. Just some midfield ball to R10 and lanes for distribution with Kaka, Cicinho, Gilberto coming upfield and R9 waiting would fix a lot of problems. Please note that both opponents crowded defensive zone and Brasil lacked touch play and through balls to open space. Hopefully japan gives more space and Brasil gets their practice for timing and movement to open up spaces for later games. they will need it if they play USA in the 16s.
i hope to see them play happy. That is what I miss the most…the R10 smile and the happy way that Brasil plays. too much pressure with the marketing hype this time. please more movement everyone else atleast if not R9. That is still acceptable.

Posted from United States

By Philip | June 22nd, 2006 at 1:31 am

Oh no!!! Please use the starters!!!

Hehe… that’s awesome.

Posted from United States

By Gustavo | June 22nd, 2006 at 5:45 am

Hey Euler, thanks for the quote”

Im quite optimistic about the game tomorrow. I trust Parreira to make some changes in the team, as well as keeping good relations to the players. Lets hope to see Brasil at least at 80% of its potential.

Good luck for us!

By conceicao | June 22nd, 2006 at 5:54 am

Cafu has to sit. Let’s not forget the ridiculous
yellow he took against Denmark which all led to
the Ze Carlos situation in the semis against
Holland in 1998.

Posted from United States

By Deen | June 22nd, 2006 at 12:45 pm

To silence the critics, I truly hope Brazil will play better as a unit tonight, in which I believe they will. Just one thing…Dear Roberto Carlos, when it comes to long range free kicks, and in the absence of Juninho, please let Adriano take it!

Posted from Malaysia

By NADER KARDAN | June 22nd, 2006 at 1:16 pm

سلام .ما همگی از بازی بسیار ضعیف تیم ملی ایران ناراحت هستیم .
ولی افسوس که ناراحتی در حال حاضر هیچ فایده ای ندارد. باید همگی دست به دست هم دهیم و به امید فردایی روشن دوباره از تیم ملی فوتبال ایران حمایت کنیم.
حمایت ما از تیم ملی کشورمان است و این حمایت به این معنی نیست که ما از اشخاص خاصی مثل مربی و بازیکنان حمایت می کنیم
حمایت ما فقط از نام تیم ملی فوتبال ایران است
به امید موفقیت ایران در آینده و سر بلندی همه ایرانیان
http://www.bachehayebad.parsiblog.com

لینک مربوط به عکس هموطنان عزیز در حمایت کشورمان
http://www.farsnews.com/pic.php?ph=Media-8503-ImageReports-8503100585-6_8503100585_L600.jpg&dsc=تماشاگران%20فوتبال%20ايران%20و%20بوسني

Posted from United Kingdom

By Monte | June 22nd, 2006 at 2:30 pm

How does SA stack up against Eastern/Western Europe
Access to the Internet is seen as a basic civil right in developed countries and forward thinking governments are making this resource available to all its citizens, as a basic utility like water and light and as like education, health care and housing are all made available to people.

I agree with all the comments above; more movement, give the bench some playing time and give the old guard a rest.

Every time Robinho comes on, the whole team is recharged with energy and gaps appear instantly. If he started the game along with Juninho in the mid field, the strikers would have far more room to play and better service.

Roberto Carlos free kicks: a strike rate of 1 in 38 is not good enough, he’s not even forcing saves from the keeper…let’s give Juninho a chance to shine.

Last note, can someone please help me understand this one…why do we never hear the batucada from the fans in the stands. Perhaps it’s the way the TV crews and producers have rigged the broadcast, but I have the distinct feeling that the fans are waiting for magic before they begin to play. The Korean fans do it the other way around and its awesome to see.

By Monte | June 22nd, 2006 at 2:52 pm

LOl!!!!
I really must double check when I spell check in word and paste back to Explorer…please ignore random comments on the Internet

By Chakan | June 22nd, 2006 at 11:09 pm

hohoho, where is the wus that said robinho should be starting due his size…

its so good to be right, like i told ya its robinho /+ 1

Posted from Brazil

By futebolblinger | June 23rd, 2006 at 1:42 am

HERE comes RONALDO world bitches, eat your words and to the media, they are the one’s who put too much pressure on BRAZIL now the players know that they must be super humans and always win as being “OVERWHELMING FAVOURATES”!!!
ITS OK SOME OF US WILL TAKE IT THEY LOSE HENCE EVERYONE IS TARGETING AND PUTTING PRESSURE, OUR BOYS NEED TO KNOW ITS OK AND WE’LL SUPPORT THEM NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS!!
WE LOVE THEM AND CRITICISE THEM, BUT THEY ARE SIMPLY THE BEST IN THE WORLD YOU CAN EVER FIND!!!!

By tim | June 23rd, 2006 at 2:09 am

even a fat ronaldo can score more than the us team. he is pathetic. get him off the field. the two goals he scored could have been scored by a bum standing on a corner

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Posted from China