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I’d disagree; men don’t dive. Take note: Zizzou was a man.

As a 17-year old Brazilian back then that was easily the best moment of my football-loving life.

Brazilians actually want to win first, but when we’re winning then we get spoiled and want the highlights. But don’t forget, jogo bonito has been exaggerated and today it’s basically highlight reels. Every Brazilian team has technique and ball-handling better than anyone in the world.

4 years ago Brazil was begging for no stars and players who cared about winning. Now that we’ve spent the last 3 years winning they’re spoiled enough to want to ask for more.

I tell you what, let Dunga win first. We can add flair in the 4 more years (and with another coach since he’s leaving after the Cup) towards 2014 IF we have the right players AND they’re willing to work hard to achieve the results that would let that flair shine instead of be forgotten.

It’s obvious that Brazil won’t be the same without Kaka now. But Brazil has won without Kaka – 2007 Copa America – a team where Dunga still didnt really know how to coach but you could see him meticulously picking his players. 10 of those players are going to SA. And I have to emphasize that we won this with Diego at playmaker (which is pretty laughable), Baptista (the beginning of Dunga’s obsession; Baptista is clutch for Brazil, you can’t deny that), and Robinho’s fearsome strike partners of Afonso Alves, Vagner Love, and Fred — and only Fred I’d say has any talent after Robinho. Ronaldinho never had a place on this team, and if he was to be used here, he would’ve been a forward and not a midfielder. Ganso, I love Ganso. I wish he was on the team, but I understand the reasons against him.

But I think that tactically, Brazil can more than make up for Kaka’s absence. The team will just look different. Probably would look like Elano for Ramires. Nilmar for Kaka. Nilmar on the Right (where he has been playing to success for Villareal), Fabiano in the middle, and Robinho on the Left. The team still maintains its creative element. Or you implement Bastos or Alves, both of whom are very capable midfielders. The first formation has been suggested by some pundits, and still has not been used by Dunga. The second one, has been used to great effect. People may complain about this team’s style of play, but to be honest, this is probably the most versatile Brazil team I’ve ever seen. The roles of Ramires and Elano are particularly underestimated, even by such “genius” pundits as Tostao (whose revisionism I find extremely tiring; you can tell he has this irrational hatred for Dunga).

94 was so long ago, but as a Brazilian, I have a hard time rating the 94 team over this current one. And this is coming from someone who grew up with this 94 team – I was 11 – and I went to 4 of Brazil’s 7 games, including the semifinal and final. That was essentially the first WC that I truly remember. The talent level on this team is just a lot more. I mean, there really is no comparison. No true #10 after Rai’s benching. A relatively weak wing-back line. I’d only rate Jorginho honestly. Branco was already past his prime and a sub. Cafu was still inexperienced. Of course, you have Romario and Bebeto, and while our current strikeforce didn’t have the legend of Romario, it’s still damn good. And Taffarel? Come on he’s a legend and hardly only a “decent” keeper (Perhaps one of the best penalty stoppers ever – 94 and 98 PK shoot-outs, Galatasaray UEFA Cup Final, etc). If JC wins a World Cup, he can be in the same breath as Taffarel. But they won because the tactics were just spot on in a very defensive World Cup.

I think something to keep in mind too is the old adage — “History Matters.” Football is the most important thing in Brazil. Its national tragedy, as you know, was 1950. Ever since that fateful tournament, history has been influencing the way Brazil plays. From the introduction of the yellow jersey to the wing back, the past has shaped Brazil’s football future. The failure in 82 (I consider it a failure anytime you let one man score 3 goals in a game) led to changes in 86 and 90. And Brazil was unlucky in those Cups. That built up to 94. And then failure again in 98. It’s always this push-pull. 2006. Wow. That was supposed to be a good team – it was supposed to be our 1970, but the tactics were off. It couldn’t even hold a candle to 82 because the team just didn’t play well. Had CAP been smart enough (he did change the team in 94, after all), and not bowed to the pressure of the Media, he would’ve used the Confederations Cup team. Or he would’ve started using Juninho immediately in the second game when things were obviously wrong. Instead, he brought about that tactical change when it was too late, against France.

And this is where we are now. I think it’s not quite right for anyone to wish ill on a team just because they don’t play the way you like. I think it’s even worse when you don’t really consider the events that led up to where we are today. Dunga’s team makes perfect sense because he is a product of the past. Let’s face it. Dunga was a loser on the pitch. Outside of 94, he failed in the 88 Olympics, 1990 WC, and the 1998 WC. And he was on a bunch of mediocre club teams that never quite reached their potential (early-90s Fiorentina comes to mind). He knows what it takes to win, and he’s lost a lot of times. I look at this team, and you know what team I see? 2002. The discipline. The tactical flexibility. I see some scrappy guys on that team, but I see a lot of class – and the class is different, but it’s by no means bad. Maicon and Alves, the central defenders, and some players when healthy, are among the best in the world (Kaka and Fabiano are 2010’s Rivaldo and Ronaldo). And this current team, while not quite as talented as 2002’s, has been playing very well for the most part. Really, of the recent results from the past year and a half, the only performances that concern me were a few of the games in the Confederations Cup. And I think that Dunga has ironed out those kinks – the games against Egypt, South Africa, and the final against the US. I look to that second goal in the recent friendly against Ireland. Robinho to Kaka. Kaka to that nobody Grafite. Back to Kaka. Backheel to Robinho. Robinho to Grafite. Backheel to Robinho. That finish. Yeah, we still have it. It never left.

This is the reason England never wins. Completely the wrong attitude

But yes, a great read.