Four matches into Germany 2006, Brazil had won 11 consecutive World Cup matches, had reached the previous three World Cup finals, and won two.
All-time superstars Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Kaka were still dressed in yellow, albeit fat or uninterested by that stage.
They were World Cup, Copa America and Confederations Cup title holders. There was no escape from them.
Pre-South Africa 2010, when Luis Fabiano, Kaka and Robinho briefly looked like the bee’s knees, I listed my fantastical understanding of Brazil as follows:
I’m no doubt buying into stereotypes, but what is that certain something about Brazil that sets it apart from every other country? Is it a lack of inhibition, a society that is open to any possibility and whose limits are only its crushing social divides, the poverty and racial stigma against its lower classes?
The Brazilian story is a swarming culture where basically anything goes in a good and a bad sense, a whirling kaleidoscope of motion and colour and emotion and sensory overload. Compared to the sedate Spanish countries surrounding it it is an island of acceptance, of pleasure and suffering, where the highs are higher and the lows are lower, a miracle in one sense.
Floral bollocks, you may think, but Brazil this decade is the story of a country that lost its invincible sheen.
Regular, if unexpected losses will do that, I suppose. Was it also the emergence of Spain, the proof that anyone can reinvent, a dangerous reminder to Brazilians that one cannot live on hype and the past forever?
I was in Brazil for World Cup 2014 and the dislike of Spain there was undeniable. Their excuse was that Diego Costa chose to play for Spain and not Brazil. I think they were just scared – for the first time ever, it appeared their label as the world’s most recognisable, iconic national team was under threat.
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There are several angles to approach the mini-fall of this decade. One is that it’s as yet hard to compare Neymar, who does have to ability to reach their level, with Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho. If anything, he has already achieved more than the former two at club level, but unfortunately football debates are a vibe thing, and the vibe is that Neymar lost a quarter-final, and the others won a World Cup.
Another approach is to contrast the unbound optimism of the Brazilian nation last decade, which featured a decade of growth, with this decade. Brazil was collectively excited but probably foolish to campaign to host both the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games, which each ended up as white elephant tournaments.
Photos of the multiple Rio de Janeiro Olympic venues from August 2016 in 2017 show them already overgrown and abandoned. Instead of ephemeral sports, why not better-equipped hospitals? Why not better public transport?
This was coupled with the controversial change of president and cabinet in 2016 that many Brazilians liken to a coup d’état.
A Brazilian I know commented this week, “The economic situation here is very bad. The country’s energy is sad right now. The corruption is absurd.”
England’s joyful “It’s coming home” refrain is proof that disastrous off-field matters don’t need to affect the national team. Brazil wasn’t necessarily affected either – this article is just glorious confirmation bias.
Statistical analysis of Brazil’s stunning 2-1 loss to Belgium suggest the former could expect to win this kind of match 96 per cent of the time, so they merely missed chances and saw Thibault Courtois play a blinder.
Data also says Neymar played a busy and effective tournament, comparable to Johan Cruyff in 1974, and was not the comical, ridiculous failure our eye and smell tests tell us.
Neymar (Wiki Commons)
Brazil seemed to strike a balance at Russia 2018. Coach Tite seems the only man in all Brazilian football with a head on his shoulders and he chose in-form players delivering the goods for their clubs – young, pacy ones. Contrary to their history, Brazil hopefully consider his reign part of a project and not just the destination that World Cups admittedly always are.
But I wondered from Tite spending too much time verbally condemning Switzerland’s equaliser, from Neymar’s ridiculous tears after the run-of-the-mill Costa Rica match, if Brazil had learnt nothing from the emotional meltdowns of 2010 and particularly 2014.
Their standard 2-0 wins over Costa Rica, Serbia and Mexico seemed controlled and balanced, but not intimidatory. France may well win Russia 2018 playing games like this, but it was clear against Belgium that Brazil had never faced attackers as direct and competent as Kevin de Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku.
Rationally, Brazil’s 2-1 losses to Holland and Belgium in 2010 and 2018 were one-match aberrations for a country that probably won both tournaments in a parallel universe.
But in our universe this is also their fourth consecutive World Cup to end without a trophy, three at the quarter-final stage, which is always the stumbling point of scoundrels.
MQ
Guest
The likes of France, Germany and Brazil could put two teams into the WC, and they'd both be competitive. They can only play 11 at a time, and at any point in time, even the medium powers can assemble 11 half-decent players to be competitive, especially for any one-off game. It's across the whole 7 games where the depth is telling, and why the superpowers generally prevail (although I think England is relatively weak beyond their best XI).
sheek
Guest
Thanks Marty, Really enjoyed your article. I am writing a blog email for my family & friends, & this is basically what I said about the Brazil-Belgium matchup. "Brazil has been their efficient self to date, but neither have they been tested. They have their usual array of creative goal scorers. Belgium have as many competent & inventive attackers as Brazil, plus possibly a stronger defence. However, for Belgium to win they will not only have to overcome the Brazil of 2018, but the Brazil of history, the most successful football nation on earth". I concluded by saying Belgium could win the quarter-final, but they would need enormous self-belief, & nerves of steel. They did just that. Belgium overcame history & held their collective nerve. The other big observation I would like to make is how strikingly narrow the gap is becoming between the top nations & the rest. With so many top players from so many nations playing in the big leagues with the big names from the top nations, the mystique is disappearing, while these players are also benefitting from the intense competition. Playing Brazil, Germany, Argentina or Italy is no longer the scary thing it might once have been. Developing national teams know, as did Belgium, if they play to their best, they can upset these superpowers. The challenge for the superpowers will be to rediscover their edge.
Andre Leslie
Roar Guru
Brazil were my tip to win this year's tournament - as I thought they combined Spain's passing game with good purpose in the final third of the field (something which Spain and Germany severely lacked!). It wasn't to be... but I'm sure they'll win it again soon.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Yeah, and it's so unnecessary because he does have the skill to let his skill do the talking. But I fear that for all his skill he is going to be remembered a bit like Rivaldo, for whom, no matter what he did in his career, the enduring memory that will be the first thing most people think of when his name is mentioned is the time someone kicked the ball to him at the corner post, it hit him lightly on the leg and he went to the ground grabbing his face. That is the sort of thing that sticks in the mind long after great pieces of football are forgotten, and Neymar is in great danger of that being his big legacy!
BrainsTrust
Guest
Brazil had a terrible combination of players for this world cup. If it was an open attacking world cup they would have killed everyone on the counter, everyone has parked the bus against them. The problem is not Neymar but who was in the box, a short slightly built fast striker. As far as big strikers who are good in the air I don;t know who Brazil have at this point, thought Bobo for Sydney FC is as good in the air for Brazil as anyone since Jardel. They didn't need to have so many players that are good in the open or the break, all they needed was Neymar a good aerial striker , and hard working physical team behind them and they would have it wrapped up. I would have had Bobo/aerial striker and Neymar up front, Firminho on one wing to provide an other option at the back post. Once you had an aerial threat in the box, then Neymar could have the option to find them then they can't just sit and wait for him to try to beat them or giving away fouls if he does take them on and he can start beating players. In this world cup they knew there was nothing in the box, nothing off set pieces, they had a field day. Then when Brazil finally got a goal and the opposition they scored their second goal straight away.
sam
Guest
https://twitter.com/RealCasuals
hogdriller
Roar Rookie
Good read Marty, but IMO I do think Neymar was a comical and ridiculous failure this W.C. which is a shame because we all know he has the skill set required and the on field back up to be the opposite. As for comparing him with the legend that is Johan Cruyff regards his work rate and efficiency? don't ever remember seeing Cruyff rolling or flapping around like a fish out of water that is Neymar. A Swiss TV station has reported Neymar spent 14 mins on the ground throughout this W.C. with his theatrics. I just feel bad for the likes of Coutinho, Willian, Jesus, Fimino et all who all seemed to just want to play the game as it should be played.
Nemesis
Guest
Post-match analysis of football often reminds me of the analysis of stock market results each night. People feel the need to find reasons & rationalise what occurred. With most football matches - especially when analysing a particular match, particularly in a knock out competition - a result can often rest on moments. A moment of genius. A moment of farce. A moment of mistake. A moment of madness. A moment of uncertainty in adjudicating a law of the game. Anyone who saw Brazil being eliminated from the WC2018 would know that Brazil had the better chances. They had more chances. They had shots hit the woodwork. They had shots brilliantly saved. After 90' of football on this particular day, Brazil scored 1; Belgium scored 2. There is no explanation required. Belgium won. Brazil lost. This is the essence of football.
Bobbo7
Guest
To be honest after watching Neymar flip around like a shot seal on the ground I was pleased to Brazil miss out.
MQ
Guest
Another good offering Marty, if you keep this up, I might start thinking you're one of the very best writers on the Roar. Brazil is that sort of national team, it sits above all others as the standard bearer, the yardstick, ahead of a handful of nations who arrive at each and every world cup with a realistic chance of winning it (Germany is one, and Italy, if they're in it). My father (bon'arma) always looked upon Brazil with awe: thattsa Brazil! Nuddu po' vinciri contra 'u Brasili! I didn't know that stat about Brazil having won 11 consecutive WC games by the time it had completed its 4th game in 2006. I wonder how often that mark has been reached, if ever. And yet, despite those great names: Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka, etc, I don't think the Brazil team of that generation carries the same aura of the one which won 3 of 4 WCs from 1958 to 1970 (unsurprisingly), having the greatest player of all time, and another who was even better. A bit tough describing Kaka as being overweight circa 2006! The quarter final is the last refuge of the scoundrel.