Courtesy: The Punch - Nigeria


Brazil changes direction

By Agency reporter

Sunday, 5 Oct 2008

If Brazil’s dominance of conventional soccer is no longer total, the South Americans have found other forms of the game to conquer.

The Samba stars are no longer ranked number one by world body FIFA and were ignominiously dumped out of the last World Cup at the quarterfinal stage. They are also struggling in the qualifiers for South Africa 2010 after failing to beat Bolivia at home, but the Selecao have refused to give up on the beautiful game.

Brazil’s unmatchable skills and close control no longer seem enough to win everything in world soccer, so the South American giant has turned to the ‘lesser’ forms of football.

Although 11-A-side football still takes the cake when the game is mentioned, Brazil has now turned its attentions to beach soccer and futsal (five-A-side) and it is paying off handsomely.

The South Americans, who gave the world pleasing-on-the-eye football and such wonderful talents like Pele, Tostao, Zico, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, have not only become the dominant force in beach soccer, they are also on the way to recapturing the futsal world.

Brazil has won the Beach Soccer World Cup three times in a row since finishing third at the first edition in Rio de Janeiro in 2005 and the manner of the victories suggests that the chasers have some catching up to do.

The men in green and gold scored 34 goals and conceded 15 as they entertained the fans on the beaches of Marseille, France during the 2008 edition back in July.

Now, to demonstrate their burning desire to return to the top of the futsal ladder, the Brazilians have started the current World Cup campaign is devastating style.

Keen to regain the title, which it won at Holland ’89, Hong Kong ’92 and Spain ’96 but lost to Spain in 2000 and 2004, Brazil has been ruthless so far at this year’s edition it is hosting.

Brazil served notice of its intention when it trounced Japan 12-1 in Rio on Tuesday, but that was just a warning sign. The Samba men, who thrive on the little space which characterises futsal, went up a couple of gears against the Solomon Islands on Thursday and won by a massive 21-0 margin, with star Falcao scoring a double hattrick.

That was the second biggest winning margin in Futsal World Cup history. Unsurprisingly, Brazil is also responsible for the biggest win with its 29-2 rout of host Guatemala in 2000.

So, Brazil is enjoying its football again. Never mind which form of the game, what matters is that it is soccer and the country’s fans are getting used to winning again.

At least if Robinho, Kaka and the other highly-paid stars are not bringing the fans joy, Falcao and the rest of the ‘struggling-to-survive’ gang can supply some happiness.




Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com