Brazil 0 – 0 Colombia: You’re from here, Remember?

By: Bruno Romani | October 16th, 2008

The disconnection between Brazil and the Brazilian squad reached a limit tonight in Rio. Brazilian players forgot how to play in Brazil. Tonight’s result was the third 0-0 in a row at home for the World Cup Qualifying. Those players feel comfortable playing anywhere but Brazil. Our last goal scored at home was on November 21st of 2007, when Luis Fabiano saved the day against Uruguay. Thank you CBF for really making this team international.

It is very true that those who play in Brazil against the host nation defend to the point which makes things very difficult even when players are inspired. Everybody knows that. But why does Brazil start every match at home with 3 defensive midfielders and two side-backs playing in the defensive line? Brazil went to the pitch with Josué, Gilberto Silva and Elano, when actually Elano could’ve been the second defensive midfielder with one of the other two guys. That would’ve opened a slot for either Alex or Mancini. The trio that started the match made things incredibly slow, something which against a team who is defensive and full of experience makes everything easier.

The two side-backs also lack creativity. In fact, they remind me of two robots. Kléber, it’s been said enough, has been having a very poor season with Santos, so his lack of participation is understood. The problem with Maicon is that he is a very physical player and that’s it. He is a pure European side-back. Even when he plays well, his participation in the attack is as harsh as trying to shit a load of Grand Canyon rocks. Brazil right now took on a European style which clearly does not work. The greatest side-backs of Brazilian football ( Nilton Santos, Carlos Alberto, Djalma Santos, Everaldo, Leandro, Junior, Cafu, Serginho, Roberto Carlos) had in common a creative twist, which is missing in the actual team.

Said all this, put together the poor performance of Robinho (always too concerned about everything around him, except the match), the tough marking on Kaká, and the lack of experience by Jô and the final score could not be other than 0-0.

Unlike the match against Bolivia, the team fought hard, but without a good plan the victory moves away. Mancini came on the second-half replacing Elano when actually it could’ve been Gilberto Silva. The Inter Milan player, however, was lost on the pitch and did not find the position of the fourth man of the midfield. The other two subs happened due to injuries. Pato replaced Robinho.

So on a tough match like this, we put all the weight on the shoulders of two kids (Jô and Pato) who just played the Olympics. It is true that Adriano was suspended. That Luis Fabiano is injured. That Vagner Love and Afonso are not national team material. That Fred is not in a good moment. That Ricardo Oliveira has been forgotten. That Ronaldo’s career is a question mark. That no one could predict Robinho’s injury. But the staff of the national team could’ve been a bit smarter and taken a player with more experience who plays in Brazil. People like Nilmar, Alex Mineiro, Kleber Pereira… People to be on the bench and used in an extreme situation like tonight’s. But today, in order to put the yellow jersey on, the player must have a stamped passport.

The third sub was another injury. Defender Thiago Silva replaced Juan. If Robinho’s injury could not be predicted, this one was obvious. Juan has been having a chronic injury. Last Sunday, he left the match during half-time. If the player has a history of injury in a particular place and that place was already a problem on the last match, his injury tonight wasn’t a surprise. In a match against a rival who was not going to attack, was it that necessary? With Juan’s injury, the possibility of having an offensive player, like Alex from Inter, went down the drain.

And again, we will hear that “Colombia was successful in marking Brazil.” I’d say CBF was successful in marking Brazil.

The national team has been disconnected from its fans and traditions. The people booing proved it once more. And the only reason there were not that many fans booing is that the fans decided to not show up. Only 46 thousand paid to watch this horrible match. CBF had to open Maracanã’s gates and allowed another 8 thousand in just so that the stadium didn’t look empty. As a comparison, last Saturday, Flamengo alone had 77 thousand fans in the stadium.

Did I mention our coach’s name? Tonight it won’t be necessary.

Ps: hey Argentina, you guys suck right now!