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Winners

July 17th, 2007 | By: Euler Costa | 8 Comments »

Brazil Champions Sunday was a great day for Brazil. Our volleyball team defeated Russia to get their 7th world title! The fifth in a row!!! Can you believe that? But the best part of this Sunday was to watch Brazil win the Copa America title over Argentina. Our team was under really heavy criticism because of the apathy they showed against the other teams, while we watched Argentina fly by with the beautiful game we all love to watch.

I remember the “Dunga Era” back in 1994, where our team was also under the “play ugly and win” curse. We got that one. Romario and Bebeto were there to show us glimpses of the flair we were habituated to watch during the “Zico Era” (which by the way didn’t win any World Cup).

At Maracaibo the Seleção answered their critics winning with the Dunga style once again: Soul over flair; strength over finesse. Now the beautiful game fans all over the world are feeling a little sad, nostalgic of the days where the art was more effective than brute force.

I’m not that pessimist, however, about our style. Sure in this Copa America the team to be watched was Argentina but look what happened when they met a physical team that was also full of heart. And I must emphasize this element to the full extent. Who can’t remember the laughable performance of the 2006 team loaded with consecrated names like Roberto Carlos, Ronaldinho, Kaká, among others? They had no heart inside the pitch.

Now the artful Argentina lost big time to powerful Brazil. Even now I can’t say that Brazil is losing its beautiful style. We must consider some important things:

1. Brazil scored very early in that match, so it is normal to be more careful and patient than a team that still needs to score. This time Argentina was to be feared so the team adapted to the situation. Brazil kept going, but was very aware of the potential of the Argentinean forwards. I’ve been there many times. Teams with less tradition, facing Brazil, tend to shut the defense as well. Anyway, the Seleção kept a strong defense and got two more goals on fast counter-attacks.

2. The beautiful game still have a place in modern football. A proof of that is that you still can see players doing moves like Ronaldinho and Robinho in their European teams. The truth of the matter is that football is changing everyday, so it is important to be able to adapt to every situation. This time the Seleção annoyed every Brazilian trough the entire competition, but with “raça” (means heart and soul) they got what we all wanted.

I particularly never had such a big interest in this competition, being the World Cup the main stage for every super team. But it is always nice to meet Argentina and see our team humble them back to mankind, since they are usually treated as gods by their fanatic horde. No wonder they hurt so much when they fall from their holy heavens.

After reading a few comments at our neighbor’s blog I got really disgusted. Things like “Brazil deserved to win the game, not because they played better (but) because we sucked.” Grow up, people. It doesn’t matter anyway, Brazil won the third final match against Argentina in a row but we will always hear the same lame remarks and disrespectful comments. Even knowing that we scored six times against none in the last 2 matches. Here Brazilians know how to show respect for our rival.

Riquelme cries After saying that, the fact is that we won Argentina lost… and boy do I love when Argentina loses to Brazil… they have this look on their face that is priceless, realizing that they’re not God’s gift to the world but mere humans like the rest of us.

Tags: Argentina, Brazil, Copa America, Dunga, heart, Junior Baptista, Kaka, Robinho, Ronaldinho, soul, Volleyball

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Comments

By thedude | July 17th, 2007 at 8:22 am

Brazil deserved to win that match. Dunga won because he had a proper strategy – play hard, physical football and frustrate the playmakers of Argentina. Basile had no strategy, he thought he could win just by how he was playing throughout the tournament, and didn’t anticipate any strategy from Brazil.

Yes, it was “ugly”, but it’s a lot more beautiful to the fans to see their team hoist the trophy over their heads. Winning is beautiful, and it’s very beautiful to see a winning strategy executed so perfectly.

The problem with “beautiful football” is that many times, it is not disciplined. Argentina always tries to make one too many passes, and Brazil used to do this too. Most important is putting the ball in the back of the net, not making 25 straight one-touch passes.

Congratulations Brazil on a well-deserved victory.

Posted from United States

By anand | July 17th, 2007 at 9:03 am

No comments..but congratulations..you certainly were the better team on the day.
As for fanatic fans, we take the blame for our own sufferings. We prefer to be in our glass houses of the dream world…coz we tend to be romantics at heart…it may sound childish and silly to many, but hey thats the way we are and I guess we are used to being the second fiddle now and hope one day there will be a change of wave.

But surprising, how easily the Brazilians accept victory over the heart and laughter of the soul…will you be doing the same when you play in the beaches of rio?

Also, there were very very few comments posted disrespecting Brazil. So please dont generalize the entire fanbase.

Posted from India

By al | July 17th, 2007 at 9:17 am

well said. I am tired of the argentinians thinking they are as you put “a gift to humanity” I guess the old saying by that economist remains true: “the best business in latin america is to purchase argentinians for what they are really worth and selling them back to their country for what they think they are worth”

their inferiority complex is theirs to deal with and not brazil’s problem. if we look at the press and the fans attitudes we see that in brazil the media refers to argentinians as “brothers” and the fans celebrate but not in the low class that many argentinian fans do like dancing over the brazilian flag? and the media in argentina making poor taste jokes about brazil. brazilians care about the game whether it is against argentina or germany but the argentinians when it comes to playing brazil well they let their inferiority complex come out in full force and that is pathetic. they should remember the words of their own writer ingenieros when he said that “envy is a slap in the cheek and true tribute to the other party’s merit” so thank you argentina for in your envy you make brazil’s win even bigger.

Posted from United States

By Ruben | July 17th, 2007 at 11:54 am

Congratulation Brazil for the Copa America Championship, I am Mexican, and we always defend and cheers for Brazil. I am proud of you guys. Go Brazil!!!!

By Euler | July 17th, 2007 at 7:56 pm

Thanks Dude, Anand, Al and Ruben for you comments.

Anand, maybe you are right. Some of you don’t are trolls, but believe me, the ones that are can be really nasty.

Ruben, I know the Mexican people have a special relationship with our Canarinho team since 1970, when Brazil won with that magical team. For that you can be sure Brazilians share very nice feelings towards Mexico, your people and your team. I can only thank the sport for this brotherhood feeling.

By yeah | July 17th, 2007 at 9:11 pm

Hey what the hell happen to your Sub 20 team? Isn’t that suppose to be the the future of brazil?. Your luck is going to run out pretty soon =)
cheers from England

By Jagan Da | July 18th, 2007 at 8:46 am

Congradulations Brazil. Long live Dunga era. See you at the world cup. Take care. JNT

Posted from United States

By shahita | July 20th, 2007 at 3:48 pm

Am not a Brazilian but who said Brazil left Joga Bonita. Check goal # 2 and 3. The goals and the build up build up were played in a way of Joga Bonita.

Joga Bonita is still alive and well in Brazil. It is only being used as needed. Dunga only added an extra defensive layer to the team. Brazil is more complete than ever before thanks to Dunga. The man is now starting to gain the respect of all his critics.

The best is yet to come.

Posted from Canada