I've been fascinated with Brazilian soccer ever since I can remember. For me they are the best in the world. As such, like any soccer loving player, I've been meticulously studying the game as much as I can since my arrival. On the news, in the papers, on the streets and in the stadiums. Myself and the two dogs recently had the fortune to pay 6 euros and go to a live game. I was surprised they let a sausage and bull dog in. But there you have it. My team, Corthians (the best team in Brazil), Vs Fortaleza. It was in the famous Pacanbu stadium, the same stadium were Pele scored his 1,000 league goal. While the game itself was poor we learned loads. I'll use a list to explain some of my observations to date:
[1] The fans are more organised than the FAI, and, the most passionate I have ever seen at any sporting event. The Corthians game was a poor 0-0 affair, a bad game on the night. But despite the very average standard of football the crowd played a stormer. Corthians for those of you that don't know are like the Liverpool of England. They basically are the big team here and have the most trophies to boast. Also, a bit like Liverpool but multiplied by 10 their form is terrible. The point is though, the support they got was fervent and febrile and highly organised like a military infantry. The crowd started with taking out white hankerchiefs and waving them around in perfect unison. Because they still have stands they were also able to link arms and rows upon rows of fans were able to join together and bounce left and right. Chanting along the way. Next, the flares were set off and hundreds of small sizzlers were hoisted in the air. An amazing sight. Smoke everywhere in a stand of 2,000 or 3,000 people with little pin pricks of resplendent light peaking through like a bright star night. That wasn't the end of the show. Besides the constant blowing of whistles, banging of drums and shouts of encouragement and abuse there was also the white Corinthians blanket vale. Bit like you'd see in Italy. The fans at the end of the steps of the stand would start to roll a giant, at least 100 foot by 200 foot, banner the whole way up the crowd. And for a minute or two everyone would bang it from beneath, making it ripple like a gentle sea just about to receive a storm. The truth be known, on the night, the entertainment in the terraces was better than the sub-standard players on the pitch.
[2] As I mentioned, I paid about 6 euros to get in. The game in Brazil is still the peoples game. Unlike the UK, were the raspacious, penurious, business men and commercial mentality has infected the game and robbed the proles and common lay man of the ability to watch a live game. It's a joke when it cost 50 quid to watch Charlton play Aston Villa. How can anybody afford to bring their family to a game these days in the Premiership!
[3] The fans have real power. In some of the big teams over here the fans actually have a vote casting seat on the Board. It's an inclusive process. Imagine that in Man Utd, Chelsea or even UCD. There'd be chaos. Recently one of the teams tried to raise their ticket prices by 2 euros. At half time at the match 20,000 fans walked out and now the prices are remaining the same.
[4] The best of the best players earn around 15,000 euro a week. Which down here in a king's randsom. It's nothing like the crazy money that is being thrown around like dirt at the moment in Europe. The philosophy is simple though, if a player wants to go to Europe and is good enough, he goes, the club take the money from Europe and a new player gets a chance. Two players to watch out for: Wagner from Palmerias and Robinio from Santos. Indupitably, future kings of European football.
[5] They play with their toes, ankles and hips, not with their calfs, hamstrings and quads like me and countless others were ill trained with. A vast amount of the warm up is spend working on these areas well before they get near a ball. Consequently, I believe this is at the heart of why they can command the ball better. Your touch will always be better if you can swivel quicker. Suppleness is one of the bedrock and foundations of technique. And they know it and build on it with tons of practice and coaching.
[6] They play the beautiful game, and the plan is simple,score more goals than your opponent. The defending is shocking in Brazil. Defenders dive in on every occasion. They don't hold their line for off sides. Centre halfs go on solo runs up the pitch trying to emanate George Waya's famous solo run. Everyone wants to be attacking. Even the keepers like to knock the ball around as much as they can and are quiet often playing in sweeper mode. But to their infinite credit, despite their iniquities at the back, and lack of Italian stubbornness and discipline- they don't boot the ball aimlessly up the pitch- only on very rare occasions. They play the ball on the deck. They feed midfielders, to feet, and likewise hit forwards on the ground. It's the way the game should be played and it makes the game more entertaining for all involved. If the national team had the Italian defense they'd be unstoppable!
[7] The commentators I think are all on drugs. If a goal is scored, I think their trained to take a massive gulp of air and shout goal as long and as loud as they can until they turn purple and their vains begin to pop in their forehead and neck. They've got those faces like those trumpet players that look like they are going to have a heart attack when blasting out a long thunderous note. It's hilarious.
[8] The referees have spray cans and to get 10 yards, they walk the distance and spray a black yellow type of colour on the ground that stays there for only a few seconds. It's a good idea.
Overall, football is everywhere in Brazil. They don't just breath it. They eat it, swim in, tan themselves in it and pray for it. The women even rub their swollen bellies, to leave their unborn children get a feel of the ball. Beaches, streets, parks, paths, mud, gravel, grass, fire, brimstone, glass...there seems to be no end to where they play the game, old men, old women, babies, dogs, birds, insects their all at it from what I can see. I love it. For me the last month has allowed me peep behind the curtain of their success. To date everything leads me to believe that they will dominate the game for years to come.
