We want back the Jogo Bonito!

The brilliant Brazilian side of 1982

The last time the world witnessed Brazil at their lethal best was way back in the World Cup 1982 in Spain. During the 70s Brazil were found struggling to fill the gaps of Pele, Gerson, Tostao and Cralos Alberto. Players like Rivelino and Jairzinho were still around, but they failed to enlighten the spirit of ‘Jogo Bonito’.

As the 80s approached, Brazil got back their lost mojo and dished out amazing soccer displays which were a treat for the football lovers. During the World Cup 1982 in Spain, Brazil were playing as a team from different planet. They were beautifully ruthless.

Tele Santana’s men had rekindled the spirit of Jogo Bonito - rhythmic, uncongealed and constantly interchanging midfield made up of Zico, Socrates and Falcão had mesmerized and bamboozled the best of defences in the tournament.

Tournament’s most balanced side, the Soviet Unions were halted by the magic of Socartes and Eder, a threatening Scotland had been beaten 4-1, New Zealand were thrashed 4-0 and the defending champions Argentina were botched 3-1, the last leading to a frustrated Diego Maradona getting himself sent off.

The death of Jogo Bonito

In the next encounter, Brazil needed only a draw against the tournament’s most disorganized side Italy. Italy were given no chance against that red-hot Brazilian side as because throughout the tournament till the second round stage, they were never at their best – a shaky defence, disorganized midfield and with a striker like Paolo Rossi, who had just returned after serving two-year ban, everybody’s question was how many goals this Italian side would digest against Brazil?  

But when the game had started, it was a different story altogether. Within five minutes that no-hopper striker Paolo Rossi had given Italy the lead. A classic Zico-Socrates combination helped Brazil to equalize, but in the 25^th minute, Rossi had given Italy the lead again courtesy of a defensive error made by Toninio Cerezo.

Throughout the second-half it was all about Brazil vs Italy’s 40-year old goalkeeper Dino Zoff. The Brazilian players continued to produce attack after attack, but all of them were halted by Dino Zoff. While Italy’s rough-and-tough defender Claudio Gentile was instrumental in keeping Zico quiet by applying the same which he applied against Maradona in the previous game. Still, Eder, Socrates, Junior and Falcao were a constant threat for Italy.

In the 68^th minute, Falcao leveled the score with a fierce drive from the outside of the box. What Brazil needed to do after that Falcao goal was nothing but defending, but Tele Santana’s Brazil emphasized more on attacking spectacular football. Paolo Rossi had scored his third and Brazil were out of the tournament triggering a massive shock wave.

That shocking defeat against Italy had scripted the death of Jogo Bonito. As Zico said, “the day football died”.    

Brazilian football started to change

  

Since then, the next generation of Brazilian coaches started to give more importance on effective but less spectacular football. Such a ploy proved productive as Brazil broke the hoodoo of World Cups and went on to win the 1994 and 2002 tournaments.

Gradually, Brazil’s traditional style of playing football has ebbed away and at present it has been overtaken by the European style. Brazil did produce players like Romario, Bebeto, Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho; but they were far away from exhibiting the Samba-style-of-football. On rare occasions, you could see them to light up a game with the brilliance of Samba, but in fact, the ‘Jogo Bonito’ was dead.

Playing in the European clubs has hampered Jogo Bonito?

One of the most important reasons behind this has been, Brazilians and many other Latin American teams now fly for Europe’s top clubs rather than featuring more in their domestic Leagues. Such moves are a must these days as because Europe offers more money, fame and world wide reorganization and if a player doesn’t play in Europe then he simply can’t develop himself as a champion in modern day football. The best examples are Romario, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi.

Even before getting matured, promising Brazilian and other Latin players fly for Europe and for which they simply fail to understand their philosophy of playing football. In course of time they find it tougher to emulate the traditional Samba style of playing football and in fact, that style remains as an occasional-flash only.

Don’t forget that, ten of Brazil’s 1982 starting eleven played in their own Leagues and because of that reason that Brazil team was able to exhibit extraordinary football which one can only dream of.

Legendary Socrates has said, “Even though it is often subconscious, we now try and copy European pragmatism. Our game has become more rational and tactically rigid”. He then added, “With the best Brazilian players signing up for European clubs at an earlier age than ever before, they find it easier to pick up the habits of a society that is more mature and settled”.

Should traveling to Europe be blamed?

Is traveling to Europe hampered Brazil’s traditional way of playing football? Should Brazil stop their players from traveling to Europe? If European style has hampered Jogo Bonito then how can Spain display such a beautiful way of playing football?

Certainly Spain are playing the way which Socrates and Zico used to play. The Spanish side is maintaining an ideal balance between their attacking and defensive motives. If Spain can then why can’t Brazil?

About the Brazilian coaches since 1982

I think the Brazilian coaches since 1982 have only focused on productive results only for the sake of spectacle. Lazaroni, the coach of Brazil team during the Italia 90 was a pragmatic one and Carlos Alberto Pereira and Luiz Felipe Scolari had been the same category of coaches, while Carlos Dunga had been heavily pragmatic and had taken Brazilian football’s true spirit into the grave yards.

After Dunga’s exit, Mano Menezes took over and it was expected that he will bring back Brazil’s lost art. But sadly, despite having a bunch of talented players, Mano is finding it tough to organize his men in an appropriate manner. He is a confused coach. He is not sure whether he will continue the European style of play or switch to Brazil’s traditional football.

Brazil football’s current state is pathetic

At present the Brazilian team is blessed with players like Neymar, Pato, Oscar, Ganso, Dani Alves, David Luiz and co who are outstanding talents and are destined to achieve greatness. With such players in a side, we fans expect that Brazil will relive the spirit of Jogo Bonito.

But sadly, it’s not happening. Brazil football’s current state is pathetic. They are a struggling side and finding it tough to carry on the legacy of their past masters. It’s all because Brazil lack a competent coach and as a coach, so far, Mano Menzes has been frustrating.

We want back the Jogo Bonito

But in my opinion, the best way is to dish out an ideal balance between European way and traditional Brazilian way – the one the Spanish side is playing at the moment (how low can you get! These days the Brazilians have to follow Spain). But the spectacular aspect of Brazilian football should be the heart and soul and it must be rekindled. And for this, Brazil need to recruit a competent coach. Mano Menzes is not the man.

We want back the Jogo Bonito!

Thank You

Faisal Caesar