Brazil a shadow of the past

June 3, 2007

The trickery and intricate skill we expect were on display, but Wembley’s first visiting nation were far from convincing

Brian Glanville

“We had six chances to score and we only trained for 30 minutes,” said Brazil coach Dunga after Friday’s last-gasp draw with England, which adds substance to the impression that we had hardly seen the “real” Brazil at Wembley.

The wheels turned spasmodically on Friday, and when Brazil raised their game, especially through Ronaldinho or Kaka, goals were threatened. There were also marvellous, intricate episodes of close passing under heavy pressure, especially in the first half. But Diego’s well-taken goal apart, Paul Robinson had only one notable save to make when, in the second half, he dived to turn a fierce shot by Ronaldinho round the post. Robinson also did well, in the closing minutes, to dive on a dangerous cross from Diego.

Brazil, like England, were not at full strength. In defence they lacked the experience of the injured Lucio, who was replaced by the towering debutant Naldo. But then was it not Lucio whose bizarre error let Michael Owen through to put England ahead in the 2002 World Cup quarter-final in Saporo? Missing, too, was Fred, who has scored freely for Lyon this season. He would surely have proved more of a threat than little Wagner Love who, skilful though he is, simply hasn’t the physique to prevail alone against more muscular defenders.

A couple of years ago, when the powerful Adriano was in form, in the Confederations Cup in Germany, Brazil had their ideal single spearhead. But Adriano, who came on only after 63 minutes when Brazil lost their World Cup quarter-final in Frankfurt to France, has had a dismal Italian season with Internazionale. Ronaldo, now motoring again at Milan, would probably be a valid choice, but after his inconsistent World Cup he has clearly been forgotten by Dunga.

A few years ago Diego and Robinho were the precocious inspiration of a Santos team playing its best and most successful football since the triumphant days of Pele and company. On Friday, Robinho was only transiently effective, but Diego, when he came on, after a far more productive time season at the Werder Bremen than he ever had at Porto, gave life to what had been a somewhat prosaic central midfield.

Gone are the days of Falcao, Zico and Socrates. Gilberto Silva, whose cross made Diego’s equaliser, is largely a defensive midfielder, while Mineiro had little impact.

Wingers? Alas, Brazil haven’t used them as specialists for years. Gone is the great tradition of Garrincha and Jairzinho. Notionally, both Ronaldinho and Kaka - Dunga said he substituted him because he was tiring - operate on the flanks, and cleverly too, but each essentially moves where the spirit takes him in a team that is fluid and flexible.

In recent times, this lack of orthodox wingers has been largely compensated by the raids of overlapping full-backs such as Cafu, Roberto Carlos and Cicinho. But the first two are veterans now, while Cicinho, who joined Real Madrid after sparkling displays in the 2005 Confederations Cup, has been injury-prone.

Playing for Seville, Daniel Alves has overlapped with speed and effect. But there was scant sign of this at Wembley, while the other Gilberto, though always ready to move into attack, hasn’t the dynamism of his predecessors.

It was not, moreover, a pitch on which Brazilian skills were likely to be seen at their best. Churned up and heavy, in an ideal world this game would have come before the FA Cup final rather than after a string of matches that inevitably damaged the newly-laid surface. Dunga remarked on its condition before the game. He scarcely needed to afterwards.