Germany’s annihilation of Brazil finally put paid to the myth of Jogo Bonito. Brazil has been a mediocre football team for years, and their semi-final capitulation showed just how far behind they’ve fallen.
Perhaps it’s easy to say in hindsight, but surely any reasonable football fan could see that such a thrashing was on the cards.
When your last line of defence is the utterly hapless David Luiz, you’re always going to struggle.
But what made Germany’s 7-1 thrashing all the more humiliating is the fact that it so brutally exposed Brazil’s ignorance of international football standards.
Australian fans should be familiar with the sentiment – it was evident as long as eight years ago when the Socceroos played the Selecao off the park in a desperately unlucky 2-0 defeat in Munich.
Filing out of the Allianz Arena that day, what was most telling about the performance was the way the Brazilian players and fans celebrated.
Despite labouring to what was supposed to be a routine victory, Brazil and its oddly boorish supporters celebrated as if they’d just won the World Cup.
They were then predictably dispatched by a vastly superior France and exited at the quarter-final stage again in 2010, when this time the Dutch proved their undoing.
And the whole time they’ve played dour, uninspiring football as their attempted means to an end.
It says much that one of Brazil’s most relied-upon players during this period of stagnation was hulking defender Lucio, who won over 100 caps between 2000 and 2011, while former Arsenal stalwart Gilberto Silva racked up more than 90.
No surprise then that Brazil’s latest skipper is centre-back Thiago Silva, while coach Luiz Felipe Scolari likewise leans heavily on the defensive midfield exploits of Luis Gustavo, Fernandinho and Paulinho.
In other words, genuine attacking talent such as Neymar is decidedly thin on the ground, and when the team’s striking options include Fred and Jo, it’s really not hard to see why.
How did it come to this? Surely one of the biggest problems is Brazil’s own misguided belief it has some sort of divine right to play beautiful football.
If any team epitomises Jogo Bonito, it’s Germany. Yet Germany’s free-flowing, aggressive football didn’t happen by chance – it’s the result of pouring time and money and resources into developing talent from a young age.
If this World Cup proves anything, it’s that the Bundesliga truly is the finest domestic competition in Europe, with only six of the current German squad plying their trade overseas – including record-breaking Lazio goal-poacher Miroslav Klose.
And with the German side possessing not only the best goalkeeper in the world right now, but also attacking talent like Thomas Müller, Toni Kroos, Mario Götze and Mesut Özil, it’s no surprise they were so easily able to overpower a dysfunctional Brazilian outfit.
They should steam-roll Argentina in the final too, unless one man in particular can produce the game of his life.
Indeed if football is a team game, as the saying goes, then Germany should win the 2014 World Cup final at a canter.
Yet the mercurial Lionel Messi has shown glimpses throughout the knock-out stage that he’s about to spark into life.
Can Messi fire Argentina to a World Cup win on South American soil? He should offer a far sterner test to the German defence than Brazil’s goal-shy attack, at any rate.
But it’s hard to imagine the Germans’ confidence is anything but sky-high, after a thrashing so comprehensive it destroyed a long-standing myth.
Brazilian football is racked with internal problems – from its mismanaged domestic calendar to its questionable treatment of young talent and the channelling of funds into the wrong hands.
The Selecao haven’t played anything close to beautiful football for years.
And after suffering one of the most demoralising defeats in recent history, they’ll need years of rebuilding if they are ever to do so again.
TheMagnificent11
Roar Guru
Exactly, Brazil don't produce this type of player anymore
RBBAnonymous
Guest
I have been reading up a little on the Volante position and second Volante in Brazilian football. Essentially the Volante is the midfield general and has pretty much licence to go anywhere within the midfield box to box range. He does have defensive responsibilities but the way I would classify him is as almost like a attacker that has become a defender for want of a better description. The first Volante is a technician and when on the field it doesn't look like they are doing much but they make subtle shifts in position which can open up and carve the opposition. It might involve a splitting pass, a dummy, sometimes it might be simply a checking move. In a sense you could almost classify Pirlo as a Volante in the Brazilian sense or even Busquets from Spain. You just don't see many players like this in Brazil anymore but they are essential in controlling the tempo of a match, cleverly linking the defenders, midfield and attack. They are the glue which forms the essence of many of the great Brazlian teams. A classic Brasilian Volante is Falcao. Anyway on my journey of discovery I found this article which I thought was terrific. It involves Tim Vickery and Fernando Duarte replying to a couple of Liverpool fans about Lucas Leiva. Anyway I thought it was a fascinating read, enjoy: http://www.level3football.com/royhendo/article/lucas_leiva_vickery_and_duartes_words_of_wisdom_from_2008
anfalicious
Guest
I agree. The loss looked to me like a result of not sticking to the plan combined with a lack of intensity.
anfalicious
Guest
Myth can mean an idea that is incorrect, but it can also refer to a foundation or identity story. We have the ANZAC myth; that isn't saying anything about whether it's true or not, just that it is a story that is about the foundation of our national identity. In this context the headline is fine.
anfalicious
Guest
The draw shouldn't be rigged (but hey, it's FIFA), but all the venue and time related stuff is the prerogative of the host. Part of the "home ground advantage" if you will.
TheMagnificent11
Roar Guru
Jogo Bonito has been slowly eroded since the '74 World Cup (Tim Vickery has written about this many times). In '74 the South American teams were blown away (for the most part) by the efficiency, tactical discipline and physicality of the European teams. Brazil decided that they had to produce more athletes to complement their ball players. Since then Brazil has churned out some of the best defensive midfield players e.g. Dunga, Gilberto Silva, Sandro, Gustavo, Ramirez, Fernandinho etc. Strikingly, there are a lot in the current squad. The number of creative midfielders has decreased dramatically. Even Ronaldinho and Neymar play on the left and drift inside. Kaka and Juninho Paulista is the only notable one I can think of that play centrally. What's even more crucial is the lack of deep lying creators. You need quality in this area to win nowadays. Brazil produces, excellent fullbacks and wingers. Even good central defenders and destroying central midfielders. An excellent striker will pop up from time to time. They don't produce good deep-lying creators. The reason, the precedent set down in the 70s. Too much emphasis on full backs and wingers to attack and midfielders to protect them. Argentina stayed true and winning the '78 World Cup (in controversial circumstances) showed them they were on the right course. And, over the years they have produced more balanced deep midfielders e.g. Veron, Cambiasso, Gago, Mascherano etc. Also, every Argentine wants to emulate Maradona, who was an attacking midfieler; a creator. Brazilians look to Pele and Garincha, who were a striker and winger respectively.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@DublinDave That's why there's no need to hold a funeral & make grave predictions about the death of Brazilian football. Football success moves in cycles. Germany has won nothing at senior level in 18 years. This German team were meant to challenge for Euro2012 & they completely choked against Italy. So far, in my opinion, they've been unimpressive against well-organised, well-structured, disciplined teams, including: Algeria and France. And they've been totally overwhelmed by Ghana's pace, attacking intent & who didn't treat Germany with any more respect than they treated other opponents. Based on what I've seen so far, Germany will struggle to break down Argentina, who have kept 4 clean sheets in 6 matches & haven't conceded a single goal during the knock-out stage.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Nice input, Rob
ciudadmarron
Guest
It's the one downer about doing the South American chants... They're getting slowly better though. Apart from lambada the one that irks me the most is sos cagon (we are the terrace) for which the melody is almost non existent. The melodies are so good.... Such a shame. We'll get there. I think it's a cultural thing a bit, Aussies just don't sing as a matter of course.
Mitcher
Guest
^^^^^^^^^^
Mitcher
Guest
I understand the sentiment Mike about Brasil generally. But I feel the myth of Jogo Bonito was busted some time ago. Brasil have played a cynical style domestically and internationally for quite a while now. The success was sustained despite this change up for the past decade and a half but you're right, it's not the same anymore. As for this world cup, the quality was just not there. While we all love the mystical history of Brasil and football, I guess it's what we all love about this game, that a number of other nations can come over the top with their own special style. The challenge is now out there to the Brasilians - Reinvent and thrive...
Dublin Dave
Guest
@Fussball ist unser Leben "Things can change very quickly at international level. Only 13 years ago, Germany got absolutely smashed by England 1-5 in a World Cup qualifier in Munich" But isn't that precisely the point? At Euro 2000 Germany had an awful tournament. They lost to England (one of only two competitive defeats they have suffered against England since the World Cup final of 1966) and failed to qualify from the preliminary stages. Humiliating. So what did they do? Took the problem seriously. Invested in their domestic league. Put the focus on youth and coaching and are now reaping the rewards. In the first 14 years of this century the two countries who have been the greatest credit to the game of soccer are Spain and Germany. True, Spain have more to show for it in the trophy cabinet, two euro championships and a World Cup while Germany have nothing. Yet. But the way both those countries played, with skill, teamwork, a minimum of cynicism and play acting. (Has there been a prolific German diver since Klinnsmann retired? I can't think of one) THEY should be the role models for aspiring countries and players to follow. Certainly, German players tend to be bigger and stronger physically than the exponents of tiki-taki from Spain. But size isn't everything.Perhaps the weakest link in the German team is the giant Per Mertesacker (if he plays). He is known to Arsenal fans (his club) as the BFG, which for your mother is the abbreviation from Roald Dahl's children's story the Big Friendly Giant. But what Arsenal fans really mean is the Big F***ing German. Big on height, less on speed. If he wasn't a footballer he could have been a basketball player. The likes of Messi, and many of the great Spanish team like Iniesta and Xavi could have been jockeys. Physique ultimately does not make the great soccer player. Technique does. It is the abiding attraction of the game. Hopefully Brazil can get their house in order, take a leaf out of the German book and go back to doing what they always did best: produce marvelous skillful footballers who don't need a thug like Scolari to whip them into a team of cynics.
Dublin Dave
Guest
Hindsight, you say? I;ve been watching the World Cup in Ireland. Here's what the analysts on Irish TV have been saying about Brazil. This was BEFORE their first match against Croatia. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_THxfVKBUsg And this was after the round of 16 game with Chile http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if9ViywFk0k Even then they were calling them the worst Brazilian team of all time. When the emperor is wearing no clothes, sometimes it takes the little people to point out that his backside is exposed. :-)
AZ_RBB
Guest
Will never grow tired of chanting Bad Moon Rising. But the RBB doesn't do it properly. We mostly scream/shout the lyrics when it's supposed to be sung melodically.
jamesb
Guest
Seems like an anthem Here is a version with subtitles http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0-bPcEbj2g
Bondy
Guest
Big Phil just picked a defensive squad with little grunt up front. I felt their Confed's tournament wasn't bad I dont know where you get serious decline for years from Mike ? . I hope supporters in Australia have taken note that another "host" has failed to flatter on the big occasion on " home " soil , Australia hosts the next big International football tournament ? . The only thing I agree with here in this piece is we should've at least drawn with Brazil in the Allianz Arena in Munchen ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfWTlk4Tobc) . The Worlds eyes will be on Messi Monday morning, Germany 2-1 ...
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Great piece Mike, no doubt Brazil have been in the decline since 2006, two quarter finals and a humiliating semi exit in the last three campaigns. I read something recently where former coach Dunga back in 2007 Copa America was quoted as saying, " we have to win anyway we can, it doesn't have to be pretty ". That summed up where they were at back in 2007. Brazil had a golden generation of players from 1994-2002 but it appears there was no plan to develop the next generation of stars to feature on home soil at this World Cup.
Batou
Guest
They now have Neym-R, but your theory still holds as he didn't play
Midfielder
Guest
Fuss Thanks I enjoyed that clip..
Midfielder
Guest
Fuss Thanks I enjoyed that clip..