Disputa
de Hegemonia. A vida e seus mistérios...
A
gente torce pensando que o futebol é só alegria. Depois vai percebendo que
também corre muito dinheiro, muito jogo político e até a tal da corrupçãozinha,
o quebra-galho e tantas outras coisas.
Curiosamente,
quando os jogos vão acontecendo, aparece também disputa de continentes, ou
mesmo disputa entre colonizadores e colonizados. O inconsciente coletivo vem à
tona e as disputas tomam amplas dimensões. Algumas até perigosas.
Vendo
os resultados dos jogos percebi que nesta fase temos quatro seleções das
Américas e quatro da Europa. Bisbilhotando o site da BBC, vejam que matéria
interessante eu encontrei. Como é longa, não vou traduzir para vocês. Tentem
entender, treinem o inglês. Não é tão difícil. Se não conseguirem, copiem no “translator”
do Google e leiam por cima.
Boa
sorte!
World Cup 2014:
Who holds the
balance of power in world football?
Phil
McNulty Chief football writer, BBC Sport
Brazil's
World Cup has been played in the style that so many hoped for once football's showpiece
was awarded to the country regarded as the home of the game's free spirits.
The last
three weeks have provided a consistent narrative of fast, attacking football
and excitement - exactly as the game's rulers would have imagined it when they
handed the tournament to Brazil.
Even the
line-up for the last eight has a balance that brings pleasure to the purists,
as four teams from the Americas are complimented by a quartet from Europe - all
of them group winners.
The
destiny of this World Cup will be decided in the iconic surroundings of the
Maracana in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday week but all quarter-finalists have the
opportunity to show where the balance of power lies between the two continents.
SHARE OF QUARTER-FINALISTS
SINCE 1990
|
||
WORLD CUP
|
EUROPEAN TEAMS
|
AMERICAS TEAMS
|
1990
|
6
|
1
|
1994
|
7
|
1
|
1998
|
6
|
2
|
2002
|
4
|
2
|
2006
|
6
|
2
|
2010
|
3
|
4
|
2014
|
4
|
4
|
The seven
World Cups held here in the Americas have failed to produce a European winner.
On the flip side, Brazil are the only nation from the Americas to achieve a win
on European soil - when they triumphed 5-2 in the final against hosts Sweden 56
years ago.
So for
Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal, France's Didier Deschamps, Germany's Joachim
Low and the Belgian Marc Wilmots there is the dual opportunity to make history
for their countries and exert European domination.
For the
likes of Luiz Felipe Scolari, attempting to win his second World Cup with Brazil,
and Argentina's Alejandro Sabella in particular, there is the chance to send
Europe home empty-handed once more.
At this
stage Europe has often dominated. When Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay
reached the last eight in South Africa four years ago, it was the first time
representation from the Americas had been so strong since the Mexico World Cup
in 1970.
So a
similar number here represents a continued resurgence and an advance on the
dark days of 1990 and 1994 when only one nation from the Americas reached the
last eight - although Brazil did what mattered in the United States and claimed
the trophy against Italy on penalties.
It was an
era when the great Diego Maradona was critically on the wane for Argentina,
even though they advanced to lose a desperately dull final to West Germany at
Italia 90 - the South Americans showing they could still usually get one team
in at the World Cup's sharp end.
The
figures started to stack up a little more attractively with two teams from the
Americas at this stage in 1998, 2002 and 2006 - and now we have the face-off
here in Brazil.
So do
these figures represent a lasting shift in the balance of power back towards
the Americas, or are there just geographical forces at work?
Germany
coach Low believes tournaments held in South America hold a special appeal for
those born there. As he prepared for an all-European quarter-final against
France, he said: "The South and Central Americans - Argentina, Colombia,
Brazil, Mexico, Costa Rica - have certainly shown that on their continent they
want to show their class.
"They
want to show the entire world 'this is where we're playing, this is our
continent and we will do whatever is necessary to satisfy our fans and our
countries'.
"It
was no surprise that these teams performed so well. They are very strong; they
are at home on this continent and you can feel that."
The
continued influx of South American players into Europe since those struggles in
the early 90s has bred familiarity with the style and demands, producing more
rounded players and perhaps helping in the World Cup environment. The three
superstars of the tournament so far - Brazil's Neymar, Lionel Messi of
Argentina and the emerging Colombian James Rodriguez - ply their trades at
Barcelona and Monaco respectively.
South
America football writer Tim Vickery also believes the continent benefited from
a change in the qualification process.
"There
can be no doubt that the so-called lesser nations in South America have made dramatic
strides since the introduction of the marathon World Cup qualification format
in 1996," he said. "Regular competitive games and guaranteed income
has allowed them to appoint good coaches and build proper sides.
"The
South American nations realised that the forces of globalisation take their
players to Europe at an ever-earlier age. The youth sides are where they secure
them for the long-term future of the national team - where talented players are
identified and given a crash course in their country's footballing
identity."
The
South, Central and North Americans have also bought into the fast-flowing,
high-tempo styles that have been a feature of this World Cup. The African sides
such as Nigeria and Algeria have shown the way too.
It would
be wrong to suggest defence has become a forgotten art but the most successful
teams have embraced the mood of swift, counter-attacking intent.
Algeria
coach Vahid Halilhodzic, whose team created such a fine impression before going
out to Germany in extra time in the last 16, believes the demands of the
European leagues have also given the Americas an opportunity to make their mark
here.
"The
debacles of some European teams like Italy, Spain or even England - although
for me England was not a surprise - were due to the fact they were a little bit
tired," he said. "There was some saturation because their own
national leagues were difficult, challenging, with a high number of matches.
"They
rested for a few days but it's not enough. There was a lot of physical
tiredness but also psychological - a lack of motivation I've seen in some of
the European teams. For me, some players who had won a number of things and
were not really willing to win here. They didn't want to make more money or
really give it their all to win the World Cup."
He
believes this particularly applied to the dramatic decline in holders Spain,
who were expected by many to fly the flag for Europe once more as they
attempted to break through the South American barrier and retain the trophy.
"There
was a lack of ambition," he said. "They won absolutely everything in
the last decade and I think they were not willing to fight any more."
One
element that has always been regarded as having a significant influence is the
heat of the Americas, in particular the fierce temperature of two tournaments
held in Mexico.
Former
England winger Chris Waddle said: "Of course there is an advantage for
players who have been brought up in hot climates, but I think with modern sports
science and preparation techniques it is not as much of a factor as it was.
"I
played in Mexico in 1986 and that was really hard. It was played at altitude
and the temperatures were up about 35 to 40 degrees.
"In
some ways we were the guinea pigs back then and now, in the modern era, you've
got dieticians, sports scientists and all manner of people who give you advice
on how to get the most out of your body. I think it is a more level playing
field for European teams coming to places like Brazil now."
And on
that level playing field in Brazil,
a wonderful World Cup has delivered a
straight fight for
supremacy between Europe and the Americas.
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