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 Not since the early 1970s when West Germany and Holland, with their "total football" philosophy, placed their stamp on football, has a national team been as dominant as Brazil has since 1994. After winning the World Cup in 1970, with arguably the "greatest ever" team, Brazil waited 24 long years, until USA 1994, before taking their fourth title.
The memory of that dreadfully dull final against Italy decided on penalties is still painful. The 1994 team cannot be compared to Brazil 1970 or the brilliant 1982-86 teams put together by Telê Santana. The 1994 squad were simply functional and grim, but they began a 12 year streak during which Brazil became global again. Since 1994, although losing the World Cup final to France in 1998, Brazil took the title for the fifth time in 2002 and were expected to take it again at Germany 2006, or come very close. When Brazil faced France, in the quarter-final on July 1, 2006, in Frankfurt, the South Americans were expected to win. The confident French had just previously dispatched Spain, but surely Brazil would be too much. In a match that may prove to be a major turning point for both countries, France defeated Brazil 1-0. Undoubtedly Brazil had to lose sometime and other good teams also had disappointing exits in Germany. Argentina were highly fancied and poor England, who seem to have perfected the art of the heart-breaking quarter-final exit, could, on paper anyway, match any country. However, perhaps Brazil's loss to France is more significant and heralds the end of an era for Brazilian football. Brazil's unheroic exit will spark months of angry debate and a demand that the national team be culled. Had the Brazilians played well and been true to their football philosophy, as Santana's 1982-86 teams were, they would at least have their country's respect. Fall below this standard and the people and press of Brazil are unforgiving and rightly so given the social importance of the national team. It is therefore, difficult to be charitable to Brazil given their indifferent form in Germany. Ronaldinho Gaúcho was far from being the world's greatest player. Were he to play for Barcelona as he did for Brazil, he would not last long. His fellow millionaire superstar, Ronaldo, basically wandered around the field, almost immobile and disinterested by football's greatest event. Most of Brazil's team in fact play for top European clubs, such as Real Madrid, earning bloated salaries and enjoying lifestyles that ordinary Brazilians, living on a few dollars a day, can only read about. The people of Brazil have every right to be angry and demand change. In Brazil's partial defense, all great national teams have their eras that inevitably end because of age, loss of the great player(s) and the rise of other countries. Even teams that seemed invincible can vanish in a few short years. Brazil 1970 are widely believed to have been the greatest team of all time and in 1970 they probably were. Four years later at the 1974 World Cup in West Germany, they were unrecognizable. Most of the Mexico 1970 line-up, including Pelé and Tostão, had gone as had the joyful football Brazil played in Mexico. The current Brazil side is, by any standard, still world class. However, major changes are badly needed. Players like Cafu and Roberto Carlos are too old. Ronaldo, who is only 29, no longer seems interested. Lúcio, Ronaldinho, Kaká and Robinho are still young and good enough to form the team's nucleus. However, what Brazil really needs, and has ignored, is a midfield general like a Michel Platini or a Zinedine Zidane; someone who takes responsibility and directs his teammates. These rare maestros control the game not just through skill but vision and sheer personality. When a game seems lost, these clutch players can save the day. Brazil cannot solely rely on the individualism of their forward line and must abandon the belief that everybody has to score. As well as addressing their structural problems, Brazil, has to deal with the rising prominence of several other countries. Rival and neighbor Argentina has assembled a superbly talented squad, full of young players, like Carlos Teves and Lionel Messi, who will be around for at least two world cups. Germans too are young and increasingly confident contenders, especially if Jurgen Klinsmann stays in charge. Holland, Spain and some African nations could also be major challengers at the 2010 World Cup. Hopefully the pessimism over Brazil 2006 is overstated. Brazil's dominance maybe broken for now, but history shows this country will continue churning out new talent. It is also true that most of these new, young players will end up in Europe. Over the long term this exodus will continue to hurt Brazil's domestic football clubs. On the positive side, it gives Brazil's players invaluable international experience to bring to the future national teams. The key will be to ensure that these European-based players still know how to play Brazilian style "futebol" for their country. Even more critical is that those honored to play for Brazil, should keep in mind who and what they represent back home - no matter how big and rich they have become at their Real Madrids and Barcelonas. Paolo Bassi is an attorney in Colorado. He was raised in Europe and has visited Brazil and fell in love with the country and its people. He is very interested in the social aspects of football and how it helps to define certain groups of people. Bassi has also written on politics and culture. He can be reached at
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Can we move on?