Brazil: the crown jewel of world football

A World Cup without Brazil is like Paris without the EiffelTower, pizza without cheese or a prayer without an amen – unimaginable. The football “Rastellis”from South America have taken part in every one of the previous World Cup finals. Nothing will change in Germany in 2006. And since the fast and furious 4-1 win against Argentina in the final of the FIFA Confederations Cup 2005 one thing is now clear to everybody: the title holders will be the team to beat in 2006.

Here you can find information about the star of the team ...

And the Seleção, the name everybody gives them in their home country, would love to add another record to their list. Brazil were the first team to appear in a World Cup final three times in succession (1994, 1998, 2002). A fourth coup would be the crowning glory of a exceptionally successful and dominant decade for Brazilian football. And for the captain Marcos Evangelista de Moraes – short: Cafú – from AC Milan who will soon be 36, it will be a quite personal everlasting triumph: should the country’s most capped player with 126 caps remain injury free, he could become the first player to appear in the final of four World Cups.

The yellow and blues from Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Santo have never ever  enjoyed qualifying games very much. It’s why the World Cup winners, who had to go through qualifying after being the first title holders not automatically qualified for the following finals, only gained a World Cup ticket three months after big rivals Argentina. Only eight wins from 16 games up to now is viewed  by the critical fans in their own country as being a disappointment. That it doesn’t necessarily mean much was proved to be the case four years ago when in 18 qualifying games the team left the pitch as losers on an amazing six occasions. One year later however in Japan and South Korea, when the whole world were watching, Ronaldo and Co strolled to a fifth title with seven victories in seven games.

For the country with a population of 186 million that is 24 times bigger than Germany, defeats for Seleção are considered to be a national disgrace for which,  the coach is usually held responsible. It’s something in which Carlos Alberto Parreira has already had some experience. The 62-year-old guided Brazil to the title in USA in 1994 but had to ward off intense criticism because of his defensive style of football. He threw in the towel shortly afterwards. But he was then recalled as his successors including Wanderley Luxemburgo,  Emerson Leao and Luiz Felipe Scolari didn’t win non-stop in the time between the World Cups. He took the wind out of the critics’ sails by adding one of them, Mario Zagalo – the 1970 World Cup coach –, to his coaching team as “Technical Director”.

Parreira is no longer confronted with the accusation that his style lacks an attacking philosophy. The 2005 Seleção is where two exceptionally good age-groups are united. There’s the “oldies” including goalkeeper Dida (32), captain Cafu (35), Roberto Carlos (32) and Zé Roberto (31) in defence as well as the now matured youngsters including Ronaldinho (25), Kaká (23), Adriano (23) plus shooting star Robinho (21) in the attack. In the middle Lucio (27), Emerson (29) and striker Ronaldo (29) form the stays between the different parts of the team. As a rule Parreira employs a classical 4-4-2 system with two strictly defensive and two offensive midfielders.

Just what treasures Parreira has at his disposal is made obvious by quick look at the specialist internet website www.transfermarkt.de. The first team made up by: Dida (AC Milan/15m Euro) - Cafu (AC Milan/3), Lucio (Bayern Munich/23.5), Roque Junior (Bayer Leverkusen/5.5), Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid/13.5) - Zé Roberto (Bayern München/8.5), Emerson (Juventus/25) - Kaká (AC Milan/30), Ronaldinho (Barcelona/50) - Ronaldo (Real Madrid/33), Adriano (Inter Milan/35) represent a value of approximately a quarter of a billion Euro. And then there’s the young star Robinho (Real Madrid/25) who mind you still cannot be counted. A collection of crown jewels on two legs.

The Seleção also appears well-equipped for the change in generations that’s on the cards in Brazilian football after the 2006 World Cup. In defence Cicinho (25) from Sao Paulo, Juan (26) from Bayer Leverkusen and Luisão (24) from  Benfica are already certainties as the designated successors. At his disposal in midfield, coach Parreira has alternatives such as Gilberto Silva (Arsenal), Júlio Baptista (Real Madrid), Juninho Pernambucano (Olympique Lyon), Renato (FC Sevilla) and Alex (Fenerbahçe Istanbul) – all players that would probably be regulars in any other team in the world. Up front Ricardo Oliveira from Betis Sevilla is presently only fourth choice behind the top trio Ronaldo, Adriano, Robinho.

Parreira has already resigned himself to the fact that his side will be the one everybody’s out to beat in the coming season: “Brazil will be the hot favourites for the World Cup for the first time in its history. It’s something we’ll get used to. My players will have to free themselves from the pressure generated from being the favourites,” he said under the impression of the overwhelming Confederations Cup triumph.

"FIFA WM" / "The World Cup Winners" - Brazil

Here you can find more information about the star of the team from Brazil...

Here you can find more information about the trainer of the team from Brazil...