Come Back, Brazil, Football’s Lost Beauty
A Nation’s Pride and Sorrow
Brazil, the beautiful game’s supposed epitome, has been struggling to live up to its reputation. The 4-1 thrashing by Argentina this week is just the latest in a string of disappointments. The 7-1 humiliation by Germany in 2014, when they were hosting the World Cup, still lingers in the minds of fans. The four goals in six minutes were like daggers to the heart of a nation.
A Nation’s Disappointment
As hosts of the World Cup, Rio’s Maracana stadium had been refurbished, the scene was set, and the world’s most expectant fans could hardly contain themselves. But a blitzkrieg left them in disbelief. The Guardian wrote: “It was the night Germany removed the crown from football royalty.” Compounding the sense of loss, Neymar, the heir-apparent to the throne of Brazilian kings, was absent with a broken vertebra. But that was nothing to the pain felt by 180 million people whose very souls had been shattered.
A Nation’s Pride
These events may be ‘ancient history’, but only two of their five World Cup wins have come since Pele uttered his celebrated claim. And if Wednesday morning in Malaysia was anything to go by, they won’t be adding to them next year. Outplayed, outfought, and outclassed by arch-rivals Argentina, they were made to look like also-rans. It could have been seven or eight, so overwhelming were the World Cup holders whose victory underlined their place in the next tournament.
A Nation’s Pride and Sorrow
Brazil captain Marquinhos had the decency to admit: “What we did here today can’t happen again. It’s hard to talk about it in the heat of the moment… it’s embarrassing,” he told Reuters. Lying a lowly (for them) fourth in the South American qualifying table, Brazil are in no danger of missing out on North America in 2026. Six teams qualify from an expanded tournament, with one getting a playoff shot so the unthinkable cannot happen.
A Nation’s Pride and Sorrow
It’s still inexplicable that a side with Raphinha, Rodrygo, and Vinicius Jr in its attacking ranks cannot make a better fist of it. They were missing Liverpool’s Alisson, arguably the world’s best keeper, but replacement Bento could not be blamed. It was in the centre of the park where they were overrun. Fielding two – Joelinton and Bruno Guimares – of Newcastle’s midfield trio that outplayed Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final, the boot was on the other foot in Buenos Aires.
At this stage, Argentina – with or without Messi – look favourites to defend their trophy. Brazil, on the other hand, doesn’t even look like a contender. For the Selecao, that means Selec-ouch! And, inevitably, it’s the manager who is carrying the can. Dorival Junior is Brazil’s low-key response to the success of Argentina’s similarly little-known Lionel Scaloni who delivered the supreme prize in Qatar. But just as inevitably, the phrase “out of his depth” is littering many reports as the former Palmeiras defensive midfielder struggles to get the best out of his team.
And after this latest humiliation, there are renewed stories about Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti. For all his success, the much-decorated Italian’s future is uncertain at the Bernabeu beyond the Club World Cup. And should Real fail in either that summer tournament or the Champions League, he could be eased out anyway. Pep Guardiola was once considered a long-term target but appears to have ruled himself out by committing his future to Manchester City. However, should the court case with the EPL go against City, the Catalan has given himself wriggle room to sever the connection.
You feel that there’s enough talent in the Brazil squad for either man to turn into a force in time for next summer. A shorter run leaves less time for slip-ups. Brazil has never had a foreign coach – another source of stubborn pride – but there’s now a shortage of native coaches in the Brazilian game. Hence a relative nobody like Dorival Jr ends up with the top job.
The England national team has reverted to a foreign manager, too, but the key difference with Brazil is that most of the players are still at home. Brazilians are scattered around the globe, the exodus accelerating when restrictions on foreign players, especially in Europe, were gradually lifted. And although many have starred in their new abodes, gelling as a national team has proved more difficult as they are subjected to different tactics and training methods at their clubs.
Nor is the regular schlep across the Atlantic to play almost as soon as they land conducive to maintaining a high level of performance – at either end of the journey. Argentinians endure a similar inconvenience, of course, but somehow – in recent years anyway – have adjusted better. In mitigation, two of the names Brazil might have been expected to build around – the perpetually crocked Neymar and the likely-to-be-banned Lucas Paqueta – are huge doubts. Neymar, now 33, is rusty and only just recovering from a torn ACL, while West Ham’s midfielder is facing a long-term ban for illegal gambling activities.
Not much beauty there and it’s all a long way from the rapturous sides of the 1980s that many judges consider the best ever. Just mention Socrates, Zico and Falcao, and fans of a certain age swoon at the memory. But when they contrived not to win the trophy, Brazil changed tack. In came Dunga and defence became their priority. They did win the trophy again in 1994 albeit with the dullest Brazilian team in memory. 2002 was better with Ronaldinho, Rivaldo and Ronaldo’s redemption, but they’ve never reached the giddy heights of the 1980s.
So, as well as having some of the flair knocked out of them by European coaches, Brazilians did some of the damage themselves. Yet such was the reputation of earlier vintages that when an English club team began to string together a few passes, fans would sing, “It’s just like watching Brazil.” You don’t hear it very often now, but perhaps Pep or Carlo could bring it back. And lighten that load.
Brazil’s struggle to live up to its reputation has left fans and experts alike wondering what went wrong. The team’s inability to gel, despite having some of the most talented players in the world, is a major concern. The lack of a foreign coach, the absence of native coaches, and the team’s inability to adjust to different tactics and training methods at their clubs are all contributing factors. The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
Q: What is the current state of the Brazilian national team?
A: The team is struggling to live up to its reputation, with a 4-1 loss to Argentina being the latest in a string of disappointments.
Q: What are the reasons for Brazil’s downfall?
A: The team’s inability to gel, the lack of a foreign coach, the absence of native coaches, and the team’s inability to adjust to different tactics and training methods at their clubs are all contributing factors.
Q: What is the future of Carlo Ancelotti’s tenure as Real Madrid boss?
A: His future is uncertain at the Bernabeu beyond the Club World Cup, and he could be eased out if Real fails in either the Club World Cup or the Champions League.
Q: What is the current state of the English national team?
A: The team has reverted to a foreign manager, but the key difference with Brazil is that most of the players are still at home.