/ 30 June 2006

Leave the beautiful game to the marketing men

<a href=''http://www.mg.co.za/specialreport.aspx?area=soccer_world_cup_2006''><img src=''http://www.mg.co.za/ContentImages/272488/icon_focuson_wc3.gif'' align=left border=0></a>''<i>Joga bonito</i> was invented by a sports brand,'' smirked Roberto Carlos, reliably the most indiscreet member of Brazil's squad. ''You can't blame us for that. Brazilian football is intelligent and winning, with great champions -- that's what we have always been. When you start talking about the beautiful game, that's more about selling things.''

Joga bonito was invented by a sports brand,” smirked Roberto Carlos, reliably the most indiscreet member of Brazil’s squad. ”You can’t blame us for that. Brazilian football is intelligent and winning, with great champions — that’s what we have always been. When you start talking about the beautiful game, that’s more about selling things.”

Nike’s high-profile World Cup marketing campaign has become an irritant to Brazil. Whenever they do not play beautifully the press taunts them with the phrase joga bonito — play beautiful — as featured on the company’s billboards.

After the Ghana win this irritation appeared to reach a tipping point. ”Why does Brazil have to play beautifully and the others don’t?” asked the coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira.

”If we can, we do. We are not against it, we appreciate it. But much more than playing beautifully we want to be world champions.” Step by methodical step, and with a fair amount of luck, Brazil are getting there.

The holders are still favourites and the 3-0 win over Ghana extended their record run to 11 World Cup games unbeaten. The last time they lost, in the 1998 final, it was to France — their quarterfinal opponents on Saturday.

For that match they may be without Kaka and Emerson, both injured, but not seriously, against Ghana.

Parreira was uncharacteristically critical of his team’s performance against Ghana, even if he had defended their right to play unlovely football.

”We gave the ball away a lot. We are confusing something fundamental in any sport, speed for haste. Speed is something coordinated. Haste is speed without thought. We were in a rush to get to goal, we made lots of bad passes. Our two midfielders made lots of mistakes in the first half.”

Parreira regards the last 16 and the quarterfinals as the most difficult. ”You are changing from that phase where you can lose one game straight into the knockout rounds. If you don’t have courage and commitment you won’t get through.”

He singled out Ronaldinho, who he admitted can improve.

”He plays differently for us to what he plays in Barcelona. Obviously for the class and the talent that he has he can always step it up a little level. I hope this happens in the quarterfinals, the semis and, God willing, in the final.”

Ronaldinho agreed he had had an off day. ”To play in this area is complicated. There are always many players there. I am trying to get myself near the box.

”The aim is to arrive closer to the attackers so I can have the option to dribble. I believe the goal is going to come. It will be good if it is saving itself for the final.” — Â