Brazilians lampoon national team’s display
RIO DE JANEIRO: Fans joked bitterly on Thursday about the blackout that briefly suspended play in Brazil’s 0-0 tie with Paraguay in a World Cup qualifier.
Their team, they said, are still in the dark – and still searching for the goal.
The lights came back on and play resumed after half an hour on Wednesday night.
But the five-time World Cup champions showed little of the flair and precision that marked their victorious campaign at the 2002 World Cup in Japan.
“No light and no goals,” read a headline in the Rio daily Jornaldo Brasil.
“Where’s our football?” said Rio’s O Dia, poking fun at a photo of a complaining Ronaldinho.
It was Brazil’s third straight draw and dropped the team into third place in the South American qualifying, behind Argentina and Paraguay. Brazil have nine points and a minuscule edge over Venezuela, who beat favoured Uruguay 3-0 on Wednesday and also have nine.
Brazil’s new attack of Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Kaka, which hadn’t played together before the game and had just one practice session, showed the expected lack of teamwork and cohesion.
The team’s best chances came on long-range attacks by Real Madrid defender Roberto Carlos. But two booming shots in the first half were just off the mark.
Ronaldo threatened on a one-on-one against goalkeeper Ricardo Tavarelli in the second half, and Paraguay countered with chances by striker Roque Santa Cruz. But the night was mainly a showcase of defence, fouls, miscues and blown passes.
Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira blamed the lack of practice time. Most of Brazil’s stars play for European clubs and arrived here on the eve of the match.
“The team weren’t patient. We wanted to move on to the attack too fast,” Parreira said in an interview on Pele’s website, www.pele.net. “We need ... more games.”
Parreira could get his wish in May, when Brazil face France in an exhibition game and then play qualifying matches against arch-rivals Argentina and Chile.
He expects to have nearly three weeks to prepare the team.
His assistant, former all-star player and coach Mario Zagallo, downplayed the lukewarm result against Paraguay.
“Paraguay are always difficult, any time,” he said. “At least we didn’t lose. Imagine if we had lost...” – AP
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