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Confederations Cup Reflections: Watching Brazil Is A Joy, Again
Goal.com's Subhankar Mondal marvels at Brazil's brilliant performance in the Confederations Cup so far.....
19-Jun-2009 12:39:08 PM
Some people were so
impressed by Argentina's football at the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany that
they said that Argentina were more Brazilian than Brazilians themselves. Of
course, that had as much to do with Argentina's breathtaking football as with Brazil's under par performance but for
all lovers of Brazilian football, it was indeed something to worry about.
Brazil might have won the World Cup in 2002 but their football in Korea and Japan wasn't the best one has seen of Brazil. They did win the Copa America in 2004 and the Confederations Cup in 2005 but at the World Cup finals in Germany their lacklustre performance couldn't be eclipsed.
Since then, though, Brazilian football has become Brazilian again. They won the Copa America in 2007 in sensational style, ripping apart a strong Argentina side 3-0 in the final, thereby establishing themselves as the biggest force in South American football. And while in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers Argentina have struggled and there are one or two suggestions that they might just fail to make it to South Africa, Brazil are sitting pretty much comfortably at the top of the standings in the CONMEBOL zone.
No one takes the FIFA Confederations Cup really seriously and maybe Dunga is using this competition to test his squad keeping the 2010 mega-event in mind, but judging by Brazil's performances in the first two matches they have played so far in the competition, it is clear that they are a side with strong purpose and intent, a side that are playing football the way only Brazilians can.
On Thursday Brazil took on the USA who are not a side that can be taken easily and shred them to pieces, exhibiting a performance that left one catching one's breath. The 3-0 scoreline wasn't more than what they deserved but what was more notable was the fashion in which they played their football.
If in their opening match against Egypt Brazil had just got out of jail with that late Kaka penalty, then against the USA they never came within a 50 mile of entering one. Right from the start the South Americans had the North Americans on their knees as they rang rings round them. Kaka was again the architect-in-chief for Brazil as having the full freedom of the park he linked with his teammates marvelously and played with the grace of a ballerina, never for a moment appearing the injury-ravished player he has become over the past two years. There was the old elegance and the refined finesse about him, his touches and through balls not bearing much resemblance to flamboyance but flamboyant nevertheless, his dribbling not very audacious but very effective.
Even Robinho looked good in parts as he scored a goal and linked decently with Kaka. The old 'New Pele' was off his game against Egypt but looked to have rediscovered some of his Robinho-esque rhythm against the USA on Thursday. Brazil played touch football focusing on retaining possession always looking to go on the offensive with pace, star right-back Maicon playing a crucial role in this. Along with Kaka the Inter Milan defender was the star of the show on Thursday as he scored a goal and was at the heart of many other moves that could have led to extending the 3-0 scoreline.
Of course Brazil were helped by the Kljestan sending off but you can’t blame Dunga's side for that, can you? Brazil were the better team in the first half and were so too in the second 45 minutes. If their display against Egypt revealed that they are still a side in contention for the 2010 World Cup but perhaps need to improve in certain areas, then their demolition of the US demonstrated their ability to play galactic football that one usually associates with Brazil (and these days Spain).
Yet Egypt and the USA are not world beaters and Brazil would do well to learn the lessons from their first two matches in the Confederations Cup. Six points from two games imply that they are already through to the semi-finals and this means that Dunga could rest some of his key players against Italy in their final group game.
Subhankar Mondal
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Brazil might have won the World Cup in 2002 but their football in Korea and Japan wasn't the best one has seen of Brazil. They did win the Copa America in 2004 and the Confederations Cup in 2005 but at the World Cup finals in Germany their lacklustre performance couldn't be eclipsed.
Since then, though, Brazilian football has become Brazilian again. They won the Copa America in 2007 in sensational style, ripping apart a strong Argentina side 3-0 in the final, thereby establishing themselves as the biggest force in South American football. And while in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers Argentina have struggled and there are one or two suggestions that they might just fail to make it to South Africa, Brazil are sitting pretty much comfortably at the top of the standings in the CONMEBOL zone.
No one takes the FIFA Confederations Cup really seriously and maybe Dunga is using this competition to test his squad keeping the 2010 mega-event in mind, but judging by Brazil's performances in the first two matches they have played so far in the competition, it is clear that they are a side with strong purpose and intent, a side that are playing football the way only Brazilians can.
On Thursday Brazil took on the USA who are not a side that can be taken easily and shred them to pieces, exhibiting a performance that left one catching one's breath. The 3-0 scoreline wasn't more than what they deserved but what was more notable was the fashion in which they played their football.
If in their opening match against Egypt Brazil had just got out of jail with that late Kaka penalty, then against the USA they never came within a 50 mile of entering one. Right from the start the South Americans had the North Americans on their knees as they rang rings round them. Kaka was again the architect-in-chief for Brazil as having the full freedom of the park he linked with his teammates marvelously and played with the grace of a ballerina, never for a moment appearing the injury-ravished player he has become over the past two years. There was the old elegance and the refined finesse about him, his touches and through balls not bearing much resemblance to flamboyance but flamboyant nevertheless, his dribbling not very audacious but very effective.
Even Robinho looked good in parts as he scored a goal and linked decently with Kaka. The old 'New Pele' was off his game against Egypt but looked to have rediscovered some of his Robinho-esque rhythm against the USA on Thursday. Brazil played touch football focusing on retaining possession always looking to go on the offensive with pace, star right-back Maicon playing a crucial role in this. Along with Kaka the Inter Milan defender was the star of the show on Thursday as he scored a goal and was at the heart of many other moves that could have led to extending the 3-0 scoreline.
Of course Brazil were helped by the Kljestan sending off but you can’t blame Dunga's side for that, can you? Brazil were the better team in the first half and were so too in the second 45 minutes. If their display against Egypt revealed that they are still a side in contention for the 2010 World Cup but perhaps need to improve in certain areas, then their demolition of the US demonstrated their ability to play galactic football that one usually associates with Brazil (and these days Spain).
Yet Egypt and the USA are not world beaters and Brazil would do well to learn the lessons from their first two matches in the Confederations Cup. Six points from two games imply that they are already through to the semi-finals and this means that Dunga could rest some of his key players against Italy in their final group game.
Subhankar Mondal
Now all of our breaking news is at your fingertips. Meet the Goal.com Toolbar, the new and exciting way to take the passion of football with you!
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