Brazil 0 - 0 Argentina: Good-Bye Dunga?

By: Bruno Romani | June 19th, 2008

It’s about time, Dunga. A draw against Argentina usually is not bad. A draw against Argentina playing as if Brazil was Poland is terrible. The result of leaving the brain behind was the greatest amount of creative chants asking the coach to leave. I’m not sure if I like more “Adeus, Dunga” (Goodbye Dunga) or “Ah, ta demitido!” (Oh, you’re fired).

Dunga chose physical work to beat Argentina. He put Adriano (whose return to the national squad feels a little too early) replacing Luis Fabiano and Júlio Baptista as the playmaker. Besides that, the usual: Maicon, Gilberto, Mineiro, Gilberto Silva. No flair. No creativity. A bunch of strong players without brains. Brazil did not have 1 man to take free-kicks.

Robinho was there as well despite the horrible matches he has been delivering. But Dunga loves him. Even if he keeps choking in important matches. Anderson also went to the match, just to keep the dose of arrogance high.

The real problem is that Dunga thinks this team is like the one from 1994. However, he forgets Maicon is not Jorginho (or Cafú for that matter), Gilberto is not Leonardo and Lúcio is far from being Aldair. Moreover, whoever is in the attack (either Adriano, Luis Fabiano or Robinho) is NOT Romário and Bebeto.

In the first-half, there were only two chances: Júlio Baptista missed one by shooting in the hands of the keeper. In the second one, Robinho dribbled the keeper and was touched. Robinho, the man who is proud of his street smart nature, did not dive to gain the penalty. Great, Robinho!

Anderson got injured in the first-half, and Dunga sent Diego to the match. Again, the midfielder did not produce anything. This makes me think that Diego is that type of player who is great for the club, but never does anything good with the national squad, just like Ademir da Guia used to be. And I don’t mean to compare the two players. Ademir played much more.

In the second-half, Argentina was closer to the goal than Brazil. But it seems that Los Hermanos were not that inspired today was well.

With the pale football, fans started to get furious and Dunga sent Luis Fabiano, replacing Adriano. Robinho remained untouched. Nothing happened. But before the match was over, there was time for the final joke from the bench. While fans chanted for the entry of Alexandre Pato, Dunga took Diego out and sent Daniel Alves. Let me put this clear to you: in order to get the victory, he took out an offensive midfielder and put a right-back. Brazil ended the match with 2 ½ defensive midfielders (Julio Baptista is almost one) 2 right-backs and 2 distant forwards. Miracles, like the final of last year’s Copa América, do not happen very often.

End of the match, 0-0. Another result in Dunga fashion. Hopefully, it was the last one.