Brazil is 4-0 thus far in the World Cup and they are doing it in a manner that many people are not realizing. In all my years of watching and playing soccer, I have never watched a Brazilian side allow ball possession to their opponents as they have in Germany. In every game except Japan, Brazil has been on the defensive. I have rarely heard the names of Brazilian defenders as often as I have heard this year.
Credit must go to Brazil for adjusting and playing within their capabilities. The reality is that only three or four players on this team can play 'beautiful soccer.' The rest are plain solid talented soccer players.
So much for Nike's 'Boca Bonito' commercials starring Eric Cantona. If you notice all they show is Ronaldinho. That's one player. Kaka and Robinho are the other two who can play this style. In any event, Brazil is taking a page from the oft chastised Italian page. If Brazil can do no wrong in the eyes of a smitten press, the Italians can do no right.
The Canadian press for their part are little too quick to insert the word 'controversy' next to Italy whenever they win. Had England or Germany won the way Italy did over Australia you can bet the headlines would read 'Splendid lads! What courage! Deserved penalty!'
The attacks on Italian soccer reaches absurd levels at times. People who claim that Italy did not deserve their victory over Australia have very little to stand on. Italy deserves to be in the final eight. Pure and simple.
Every team has to play a style that reflects the character of its players and the philosophy of its manager. We see in the four major pro sports here in North America teams win with all sorts of different styles and systems all the time. From the Patriots to the Ravens to the Red Sox to the Suns to the Red Wings. How boring it would be if everyone played the same style!
Not everyone can play open soccer. In fact, playing for its own sake can be brutal to watch. Those who demand that everyone play this style are slightly unrealistic. Italy - heck all countries - is not there to please the Spanish or British press. They are there to win.
Beauty, my friends, is in the eye of the beholder.
Additional Notes:
-Count Hiddink as one of those who subscribe to the myth mentioned above. Here's a guy who benefited from bad call after bad call after bad call when his Korean team beat Spain and Italy in 2002. Yet one would think he'd call it even and move on. No sir. He could not help but pull the silliest of statements when he said "Italy does not play attractive football. They play for the results." Yes and what's his point?
-Well, I have said that this was going to be a World Cup where the world powers would reassert themselves and this is exactly what happened. Six of the final eight teams have won the World Cup and 7 of the 8 expected to be in the quarters. The Ukraine being the lone surprise in their first appearance.
-Spain. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Another disappointing World Cup. There is no doubt they have talent but this is a country that does not know how to win. Historically, political and historical regional cleavages played against them but this time around they were expected to go deep. I thought so too. They can't blame anyone for this one. Perhaps it's time to stop considering Spain a heavyweight?
-Note to the title. I have seen different variations of the spelling of Boca Bonito which includes Joca Bonito.
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