Can Brazil Win A Major Tournament Again?

Brazil reserves the singular accolade of being the world’s greatest nation when it comes to football having achieved five World Cup triumphs. Over the years, the country has produced greatly skilful footballers in the likes of Pele, Garrincha, Zagallo, Zico, Socrates, Romario, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Kaka. However, in recent times, question are being asked if Brazil can ever win a major tournament again.

Over the last three major tournaments, Brazil have failed to deliver and as such people are beginning to wonder if truly the Samba boys can actually deliver. With history against European countries – having not won the World Cup outside of Europe – Brazil were clear favourites to win the World Cup in South Africa but to the dismay of the fans worldwide, they crashed out of the tournament due to a dismal performance against Holland in the quarter-finals.

At the back of a disappointing performance at the World Cup, Brazil headed for the Continental tournament (The Copa America) last year in Argentina and also crashed out in the quarter-finals stage. Brazil came into the London Olympics hoping to break their Olympic jinx and paraded a set of new generation stars such as Neymar, Oscar, Marcelo, Rafael and Hulk. They came into the tournament as favourites alongside Spain to clinch Olympic gold. With Spain’s elimination in the first round, it was seen as Brazil’s to lose. They blasted their way into the final scoring an average of three goals in each game.

When it all mattered most; in the final against Mexico they lost 2 – 1 in a game which they were overwhelming favourites. With a goal down and a team parading such talent and quality it could have been easier to turn the tie round but they failed miserably. It was a performance the Brazilians will want to forget pretty soon as they lost a golden opportunity to win an Olympic Gold medal for the first time - a laurel which has eluded them over the years.

Further revelation showed the team claimed to have been under immense pressure but that is child’s play compared to what they will be facing when the nation host the World Cup in two years time. The last time they hosted the World Cup was in 1950 and on reaching the final with only a draw needed to win the trophy, they lost 2-1 to Uruguay in one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history.

With the Confederation Cup coming up next, it will serve as a preparatory avenue to boost their confidence should they win it and present an atmosphere that includes support from the home crowd in advance to what the World Cup will be like. If there is a team that can break Spain’s recent domination in world football, it is Brazil. Spain are still favourites to win the World Cup in 2014 barring any injury or loss of form on majority of the European Championship winning squad.

For the Samba boys, new Brazil wonder kid Neymar will definitely be the star to watch, by then he will be 22 and may have gained some experience in Europe if he moves to Europe before the World Cup. Oscar and Lucas Moura are another two exciting prospects and it remains to be seen if Oscar’s Chelsea adventure will be a success. Thiago Silva; regarded as one of the best central defenders in the world; will be 29 then and at the prime of his career, so also is Chelsea’s David Luiz.

Other veterans who may still be in contention come 2014 are Kaka; with his best probably behind him; he will be 32 during the World Cup and there are questions mark regarding his future with the national team, Dani Alves will probably still man the right side of defence but his performance for the Seleccao have been questionable lately as he has often failed to replicate his performance for Barcelona in the national team.

Chelsea’s Ramirez will definitely add some bite and steel to the midfield. Robinho has been drifting in and out of the team and if his performance doesn’t improve he may likely miss the cut. Gone are the days when Brazil had world class strikers like Romario, Bebeto and Ronaldo. Brazil lack a deadly centre forward in the mould of these former greats. Alexandre Pato would have fitted perfectly as a true center forward but he has spent more time on the treatment table than on the pitch.

Hulk has yet to find his rhythm for the Samba Boys. Brazil must get a reliable and consistent striker before the World Cup kicks off in 2014.

After Brazil’s defeat in the Olympics, Mano Menez may probably find himself out of a job in no distant future as he has already started receiving criticism notably from former striker Romario who has already called for his sack. They need to gets their acts together and form a winning team or winning the World Cup in 2014 on home soil may become another mirage.

Original article:
http://leadership.ng/nga/articles/32814/2012/08/18/can_brazil_win_major_tournament_again.html