Defense

As always, it is Brazil’s unsolved problem. Even though there are many famous Brazilian defenders, they still can’t fin the way to play together and make it work. Cafú, for example, is one of them, and was the one to blame for Crespo’s goals in the match that Argentina won 3-1 some weeks ago. This time, the defense leader was Lúcio, who is said to be one of the best defenders around, and partnered up with Roque Junior in central defense, surrounded by Cicinho and Gylberto, combining experience and toughness with enthusiasm and speed.

Sounds good, mathematically. The fact is that there is a weakest link in Roque Junior, he is very clumsy whenever the ball is played low and fast attackers can get past him easily. He is more reliable on the one on one when the ball is played high, since he is very well endowed physically and has a good header. Lúcio also has some trouble when facing a quick forward with skilled dribbling, and he is not in a position of being able to make right any of Roque Junior’s probable mistakes.

The four full backs had a good tournament and played well whenever they had the chance. They may not be great in marking, but with enthusiasm and mobility, they managed to keep away danger from their zones. When going forward, they all looked extremely surprising and dangerous and thus became an important part of the attack.  

Midfield

Zé Roberto and Emerson were the ones truly involved, since Ronaldinho and Kaká played in the hole nearly all the time. Emerson played as a typical defensive midfielder and Zé Roberto was the link between the defense and the attack. While Emerson was the first to apply heavy marking on rival playmakers, Zé Roberto was the first one to start the attack, and then became the more defensive attacker, most of the times being a backward passing option for the attackers when unable to penetrate into the defense. Defensively, he stood right beside Emerson, but with a zonal marking role, and the sides were sometimes covered by Ronaldinho and Kaká when the team pulled back.

Two of the best playmakers in the world were in charge of creation. The only team that managed to stop them was Mexico, and achieved that by getting at least nine players inside their own quarter of the field, only trying to score through counter attacking. Ronaldinho and Kaká played in the hole all the time and the team relied mostly on what they could come up with. They repaid this trust with great football. Although they did connect a lot, really dangerous chances came when one of them engaged in  individual moves and finished it by themselves or handed the ball to a partner ready to score.

Attack

Adriano was one of the tournament’s biggest stars. He proved that he can be as good as Ronaldo, since Parreira stated that he was Ronaldo’s natural replacement. He was the top scorer and most of his goals came from his own individual abilities and moves. He drove defenders crazy with his mobility inside the area, he was really hard to follow and it was almost impossible to be anticipated. Plus, aware of being 1.89 m. tall and weighing 86 kg., he used his body to fight for the ball and struggle for a position in the area waiting for a set piece or a corner, with great results.  

Robinho partnered up with him up front. His performances made Santos, his team, ask for more money. Whether he played that good or not is hard to tell, his style is the one of taking on players with his amazing dribbling skills, and he could not do that standing almost inside the area waiting for Ronaldinho and Kaká to pass the ball. That’s why most of the times he pulled back to the hole to get the ball and try to penetrate into the defense through the sides. Rival defenses seemed to be aware of Robinho’s ideas, so he constantly found trouble as he was double-marked and was forced to pass the ball.

Overview

Being equipped with lots of talent, Parreira got his team working basically through two ideas: in defense, get as many players in their own field as possible, and in attack, let the talented ones do what they want.

By getting nine or ten players in their own field and not being exposed to dangerous counter attacks, Brazil made spaces a lot smaller and pressure had its effects; the defense or Dida didn’t hardly ever have to deal with dangerous attacks. That way, defensive mistakes were easier to avoid and correct, and pressure applied by Emerson and Zé Roberto made it a lot easier to defend.

Parreira must have only told his four aces that two of them should play in the hole, and the other two in the area, and that they would have Zé Roberto to give the ball to if they found themselves in trouble. The rest he must have left it to personal initiative, since the four of them are some of the most creative and talented players in the world. Of course it would work, and the only way to survive them is to get your own field filled with players man marking those monsters, or to hope that  they are having a bad day.

 
Time has passed since we last witnessed the famous ‘Jogo Bonito’. Now, in this new Brazil team, the style is different, and it is much more individual. Some like it, some don’t, but it can still be a great show. If by the time the next World Cup arrives, the ‘Four Fantastic’ have found the way to add more teamwork to their already deadly individual game, then Brazil may once again be the champions, and no objections will sustain.