For the past few years, I've dug myself into the soccer realm and have enjoyed every second 0-0 dull games. There's one thing that continues to dawn on me and that is the Brazilian National team. It's the summer so international football is alive with the Copa America and the recently completed Gold Cup, and this team just epitomizes what I have been thinking since before the '10 World Cup: It is overrated. Sure, five world cups leads the entire planet, but the roster has been completely watered down since its last win in '02.
After watching the team struggle to 2-2 draw against Paraguay, it is becoming more and more obvious the team lacks the same star power that Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and Pele brought. It is young, I will say. With Pato, Ramires, and Neymar, the talent is relatively young. Robinho, Lucio, and Elano continue to hit the tail end of good careers. Robinho might only by 27, but he has lacked the same explosiveness since his Madrid days.
Quarterfinal exits when highly favored in both '06 and '10 World Cups with a bad showing so far in the Copa are microcosms of what the team has show for the past 5 years. They have lacked that strong midfield player that can distribute (Ronaldinho) with a less than confident back line. Julio Cesar continues to be one of the best in the world, but Lucio can't continue forever. David Luiz will step in and Thiago Silva is growing up to be one of the best defenders in the world. Is the overall quality of South American football down? I don't think so especially with Chile, Paraguay and Argentina still thriving.
Time will tell, especially tonight, Brazil need a good result to go through or else the critics are going to be coming out.
When it doubt, play the ball back to play it forward.
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