The day after

“Kris | July 6th, 2006 at 3:21 pm
Brazil is just a “propaganda” team… In commercials they do very well.. But as you see in this world cup as soon as they had to play a real team..Game Over.. But at least they didnt leave without leaving something for the commercials..(ronaldo gets the record)*against 2 shit teams*..This is what happens when you put too many pretty boys on 1 team that are more afraid of getting hurt than scoring a goal. And Finally this proves that Ronaldinho isnt even half of Maradona.. Joga Bonito my ass ”

I just love these people who make judgments about entire teams and players based on FOUR matches and one competition, and a few TV commercials. Tell me, Kris, did you see the Confederation Cup of 2005 also in Germany, considered run up competition to the WC? This crappy useless team you hate so much won that Cup, trouncing Argentina 4-1 in a brilliant demonstration of Brazilian skill and talent. Have you seen Barcelona’s season with Ronaldinho leading his club to a major victory that so delighted European audiences? Just how much international football do you watch? Do you watch the Copa America, the EUEFA contest, the Premier League championships, the WC qualifying round games, do you watch any friendlies?

Or are you like so many lazy Americans who watch no international football in between World Cups and then when one finally comes around think you’re able to make wholesale judgments on teams and players you’ve never seen before?

All these Americans who’ve never heard of Zidane before now just love the guy (he’s my #1 favorite footballer). Well in 2002, when he was 4 years younger, he and his team couldn’t get past the group stage and were defeated by Senegal! And THEY were the #1 favorite, having won the previous WC.

Your opinion of Brazil is utterly worthless because it’s based on 4 matches and a handful TV commercials, that’s it. Come back after you’ve actually watched the man named World Player of the Year twice in a row, the player that makes audiences gasp every time he gets the ball play in matches other than 4 WC games — oh but I guess you’ll say Nike forced FIFA to give him that title.

I guess Brazil has zero talent and skill — footballing kids around the world (who are far more knowledgeable than you, they actually WATCH Ronaldinho play in matches other than the WC) consider him their personal hero — but you know more than they do.

Every World Cup it’s the same, casual incredibly uninformed football viewers in this country who never watch the competitions between World Cups, don’t know anything about the other international competitions, suddenly became experts after seeing a handful of matches.

Posted from  United States

well said Chris i’m with u

Posted from  United Kingdom

Sandrahan…I watched all of those that you are talking about…Brazil is 100% over rated. And its just like a brazilian to say Ronaldinho won this and that with Barcelona but that is Barcelona a top class team with top class players not just a one man show.. Ronaldinho did not make 1 nice pass, 1 nice play, not even a goal for that matter. sorry but if your the best player in the world you have to show up to play in the world cup. Not wear a stupid little head band and made to look like a little baby by Zidane.

All those lil tricks and bullshit dont win games..And the only reason they made it passed the first couple games is because they played nobody…

No one said they didnt have talent but there egos are almost bigger than Ronaldos Body. there next commercial should be JOGA BIGHEAD.. But fifa did what fifa wanted to do Brazil and Nike are there to sell shirts and try and spread soccer around through gimmicks and flash which for some reason they think people like to see.

Posted from  United States

“sorry but if your the best player in the world you have to show up to play in the world cup. Not wear a stupid little head band and made to look like a little baby by Zidane.”

This is the type of thing everyone was saying about Zidane in 2002 — overrated, world’s best player, didn’t show up, he’s finished, he’s crap.

Posted from  United States

By the way, Kris, why don’t you create your own HATE BRAZIL blog rather than come over here to inflict insults on Brazil fans? I don’t understand people like you. I don’t go over to team blogs that I don’t like to shout ignorant insults at them.

Posted from  United States

To all those making fun of Brasil for their loss. I learned from that loss to watch what I say for I was forced to eat the arrogant comments I made about the wonderful Brasileros. All of you talking about certainty of a cup for your team, have some humility, one of you will be eating crow. I say good luck to France, good luck to Italy, may the best team win.

Posted from  United States

“And Finally this proves that Ronaldinho isnt even half of Maradona”

Yeah, maybe in size, thank God Ronaldinho isn’t half of that fat tub of lard “Marrano-dona” (for those of you who don’t know, marrano means pig.

Posted from  United States

“No one said they didnt have talent but there egos are almost bigger than Ronaldos Body. there next commercial should be JOGA BIGHEAD.. But fifa did what
fifa wanted to do Brazil and Nike are there to sell shirts and try and spread soccer around through gimmicks and flash which for some reason they think
people like to see.”

Well I like to see the Nike adverts and I have Brazil’s shirt, but I’ve always love Brazil regardless of whether they win or lose, and I’ve liked Ronaldinho even before he got famous, and I don’t think I’m the only one around the world? At least Ronaldinho is honest and admitted he was not playing his best, and not blaming the weather, the pressure, the coach, the different roles he has to play from what he’s used to etc. I just hope he can bounce back from this. Kris, people were talking about France the same way in 2002 that they were over rated bla bla. We’ll always have this every four years. To say that Brazil is 100 percent over rated is not true. They won all the competitions they participated in after the 2002 WC, so there is some justice to that.

Posted from  Japan

Barcelona was not in a good shape back in 2003, and it got better and better after Ronaldinho joined them, although he was not the only one responsible for turning around their fortune. If you want to talk about club, why can’t Zidane perform well in Real Madrid, a club full of superstars? I like both of them, and I’m happy to see Zidane having a good tournament before he retires, and sad that Ronaldinho had a poor one.

Posted from  Japan

I REALY THINK THEY DID THEYR BEST IF THEY LOST THEN IT WAS BECAUSE IT JUST WAS NOT ONE OF OUR LUKY DAYS.

Posted from  United States

I think Kris is one of those people who cannot look at Brazil objectively. He just hates Brazil, period. If Ronaldinho were anything but Brazilian and had the exact same career, Kris would not dismiss his incredible talent and skill. This is a guy who received a huge standing ovation from a crowd in England after making two beautiful goals. It’s the fact that Ronaldinho is Brazilian that makes Kris unable to look at him or any other Brazilian player objectively.

All Brazil-haters like Kris see is Nike commercials, that’s it. The minute he sees that Brazil shirt, that’s it. All his objectivity is gone. If a Brazil player posed as, say, English or German or Italian or anything else, Kris would suddenly discover his objectivity and praise him for his skills. But that’s impossible for people who just hate Brazil with such irrational bias. All their thinking faculties go out the window. All they feel is contempt.

Posted from  United States

Despite what Kris has said - I dont think there is a better talented player than Ronaldhinio in this world at the moment. Yes Zidanne had the day against Brazil - but lets face it that Brazil team were in a shambles as the manager went for the experienced players and did not play his best team. Its not Ronnies fault that the likes of Ronaldo, Cafu and Carlos did not give him the trust he was expected.

I wonder if the reason for the teams aparthy was becuase he plays for Barcalona and plays for that crowd with his full heart (and rightly so as they pay his wages) - the Barcalona crowd adore him like no other Brazllian player is adored by their clubs crowds. He has the potential to be up there with the likes of Pele and Maradona but unfortunately it maybe a case that the other Brazillian players dont want that for him.

Posted from  United Kingdom

The comment that zee made was pretty interesting cause as much as brazil players are really friends with eachother the envious ones comes out Ronaldinho is the most humble player the best soccer player in ther world and still humble if you guys watch the match it was close to the end ronaldinho beat makelele he was on his way to attack and cafu took the ball from him? WTF ronaldinho has become a major star and ronaldo,carlos and all the seniors knows this and the last hope and stardom they have they took there chance and basically wanted to be in the spotlight i feel bad for ronaldinho he will not blame his teammates for the lost but if only brazil let him lead the way with every attack the same way france did with zidane then it could have been a different outcome. but i just wanna point out to all you france supporters that before zidane came back you guys were stuggling to qualify and once this world cup is over and ZIDANE is retired who does France have now Henry? the offside King? the biggest actor in this world cup most dive most over-racting sorry france but once zidane leaves you will be lucky to qualify for 2010 the depth of the france team is no where near brazil AND NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS BRAZIL IS BRAZIL WHEN YOU SAY WORLD CUP THE FIRST TEAM PEOPLE THINK ABOUT IS BRAZIL WHEN YOU SAY SOCCER ITS BRAZIL BRAZIL IS THE REASON THE WORLD CUP IS POPULAR 5 TIME CHAMPS NO HEXA THIS YEAR BUT STILL WHO ELSE HAS 5 STARS IN THEIR JERSEY?

Posted from  Canada

I am watching the tape - finally - of the game vs. France - as the Brazil national anthem is being played, the camera scanned the faces of the players - when they got to Juninho Pernambucano - you could see the tears in his eyes as he was singing - and the emense amount of emotion going through his mind - God Bless him - he had a fine career! Too bad it had to end the way it did…
I too - want to thank Ze and Euler for running these blogs - it was great having dialog with everyone - some very interesting perspectives were presented. I hope my blogs were interesting to you all who read them and I do hope they elevsted the debate. The blogs actually served an emotional purpuse as it was an outlet to voice my ideas about what was happening. It elevate my mood after the lose especially. I am sure it worked the same for you all too.
I am going to be switching from cable to the DISH network which has access to GOL TV as well Globo tv and Record international out of Sau Paulo. This should allow me to follow the brazil team and the younger players from now on. I am looking forward to watching Brazil League play, stuff from South America - copa america and of course the wc 2010 conembol qualifying. Hopefully we all can stay in touch for the furture stuff. In the mean time - I have a few weeks until my San Diego Chargers start camp and begin the new season of American football - anyone into that? Cheers…

Posted from  United States

I love the conspiracies that have arisen as a result of Brazil bowing out of the tournament…I guess that’s makes this world an exciting place to live in…but as much as I love the conspiracies of Big business deciding the outcome of soccer games and players bowing to pressures of officials to lose games, etc, etc…I cannot accept it, simply for one reason…the Brazillians of today are not same vintage of the brazillians of the yester-years. The players today are multi-millionaires, and if they lose it does not affect them financially in any way. The players of the past, had no contracts, no huge money…all they had was pride for the game and for their country.

Posted from  United States

Josaia

To some extent you are right. However, the problem may have been that the majority of the squad that played would not have the will to fight because they had already won the cup once. That majority should not have played. The manager should have just taken the squad he took to the confederations cup. The new and upcoming players NOT the likes of Cafu and Carlos. Ronaldhinio wanted to shine but was not allowed. That is the bottom line.

Zee

Posted from  United Kingdom

Brasil is not the God of futbol, and France won simply because they played better than brasil did, having said that, there is a reason why brasil is the only team in the word to have qualified for every WC, why they have the most wins,second place finishes, and third place finishes in the history of the world cup. I also agree that it looked like they were expecting this loss and that they were playing their style of soccer. And for all these people saying that they’ll win the next world cup, ahs anyone noticed how young the ivory coast team is, and sure they did’nt have a great world cup losing to argentina and holland, and barely winning against serbia, but remember how a mediocre south korea did when they were close to home…
And has anyone noticed how young the german and spanish teams are, mainly the germans, because no matter how good “La Furia” is, history is just not on their sides

Posted from  United States

Brazil has always been overrated. I remember four years ago when they “beat” turkey with bogus penalty calls which changed the face of the game. What about this year against Ghana. Once again the refs let their bias and favoritism of brazil dictate the flow of the game. Brazil scored goals that should have been offside, which definitely had its toll on the ensuing play, as ghana intensified frustration resulting from refs favoritism for the “glamorous” brazilians. Also reflecting on the 1994 world cup final, brazil only won it in shoot outs against a then-italian team that outplayed the brazilians. I recollect the commentators using exaggerated adjectives to mark their respect for brazil as if the team was godly. Yet the world observed, and brazil was far from impressive. Oh wow, they advanced out of group stage. They beat japan. They beat croatia. The French team wasn’t even great itself, as it was forced to use bogus penalty kicks to score against portugal and italy. Yet France was brazil’s first somewhat challenging task, and Brazil flunked miserably. I recall they couldn’t even get out of their own half for the majority of the game.

Posted from  United States

VictoriaCristianoRonaldo

90% in Canada are for Brazil? LOL where did you come up with that claim? I am from Canada and I support England, and I assure you that I am NOT the only one nor last that is supporting a team other then Brazil.

Posted from  Canada

I was very disappointed by Brazil but then again they are only human. I think that people were too mean to them. You dont always win everything…that’s life. But as loyal fans we should support them whether they win or lose. It’s not fair that we love them when they win and we hate them when they lose. We should continue to love and support Brazil no matter what happens because they are the best no matter what anyone says and they will rise again in the WC 2010 in South Africa….trust me they will…and as for the french, I think they were full of themselves…its not that i dont like them but well they actually were not the better team, in the entire world cup they were only able to get goals by penalty shots (which anyone could get). And the penalty shots were totally uncalled for (it was probably a conspiracy or sumthing). So ya for all of you that think that France was the better team your wrong….and for those of you that were disappointed by Brazil, find it in your hearts to forgive them cuz everyone makes mistakes and needs to be forgiven at some point in their life. If you love Brazil, love them unconditionally cuz it doesnt make sense to love them when they win and then hate them when they lose. and by the way no I am not brazilian but I styl love them and always will as a loyal fan! BRAZIL RULES! 2010 is gonna be their year just wait!

Posted from  Canada

The difference between brazil and france was that france was able to get their act together, put aside their egos, take risks on the pitch, and work collectively as a team.

Brazil had fabulously talented players — anyone who knows the game (and has no biased investment in trashing brazil just because they have a personal knee-jerk mindless hate of a high-profile team) knows this. What they did not have is a good coach or a mindset willing to put aside egos.

The younger players were hungry, talented and passionate and when they were put on the pitch, Brazil’s game improved substantially. But the veteran players and the coach did not allow them to play more than a few minutes here and there.

Brazil, France and Italy all had teams dominated by talented older veteran players. Only France and Italy were able to cohere into collective units and get past the quarter finals.

Posted from  United States

germany was the best team in the tournament but lacked the experience in the midfield to control italy. i wish it would have been a rematch of 02 and Deutscheland would have taken the spoils with kahn in goal to take his revenge on the brazilians. but i believe Germany is very young and VERY talented and is already showing how powerful they really are in the Euro qualifiers. i hope brazil can find their samba rhythm and bring to the pitch against a German powerhouse team in 2010, so we can have a showdown of dancing ball handlers versus true warriors. Podolski Klose Schweinsteiger Lahm and Odonkor … who knows how far the Germans can go…

Posted from  United States

Listen up. Brazil is just another team. France is a great team and they beat brazil twice. Brazil did not decide to play poorly or sort of thing. The french are so goo dthat they put them out of business. Sorry but next time Brazil meets france you already know teh result. France X - 0 Brazil. Being x a number grater than or equal to 1.

Posted from  United States

I disagree with you PP. Brazil just did not play well in the world Cup. The only match that they did anything was against Japan and guess what Cafu and to a lesser extent Roberto Carlos was not there. Parreira just too conservative and did not play the best players that Brazil had to offer. Against France the main reason why they lost is the performance of the wingbacks. After France felt them out and saw that Cafu and Roberto Carlos was ineffective the 2 defensive midfielders Mackele and Viera just crowded out Brazil in the midfield. This gave Zidane the license to weave his magic and cause Brazil all sorts of problems. Contrast that to the match they played against Italy where the 2 Italian wingbacks Zambrotta and the other guy was extremely effective both in defence and attack. This forced Makele and Viera to play both in the middle and drift out to help out Wily Sagnol and Eric Abidal which means that they could not cover for Zidane as effectively as they did against Brazil. Zidane had to work his butt off the middle of the field and that may have led to his frustration and subsequent head butt on Matterazi. Put it simply Brazil played the worst I have seen them played in that match against France.

Posted from  United States

ronaldinho rocks others are shit

Posted from  Canada