Rio 2016 - Brazil must win to rekindle the true spirit of Joga Bonito

Today is a big day for me and the Brazilian fans all over the world. After a scratchy start to the men’s football event, the Samba Boys have found their rhythm back. Rogerio Micale’s 4-2-4, which I believe has been the boldest ever move in this era of pragmatic football, helped Brazil to rediscover their mojo. We could enjoy the free-flowing football and a bit of ginga which made Brazil special from the rest of the teams of world football.

Rogerio Micale and his men have advanced into the finals and to rekindle the Joga Bonito and instill its true spirit in the Brazilian football culture yet again, Brazil’s victory tonight is very important.

Germany are a strong side and blessed with attackers like Brazil as well. Most of the players are from the Bundesliga and the likes of Bender twins, Sven and Lars,  Leipzig's Lukas Klostermann and Ingolstadt's Robert Bauer have been impressive enough to claim a place in the senior team. Brazil will be challenged, but this time around, I firmly believe, Micale’s men will be pressurized neither by the nightmarish memories of 2014 World Cup nor the pressure of playing in front of the home crowd in the Maracana.

Micale’s team is different. They are united and determined to prove a point to those who treated them shabbily after that dismal show against Iraq.   

Many are advising Micale to apply a pragmatic format to halt the German progression, but such things will only invite disasters. Germany are such a team, they’ll crush you when you try to hold them back. If we notice Argentina, Italy and Brazil’s success in Mexico, Espana 1982 and South Korea and Japan 2002, then we could realize, playing attacking football had been instrumental in defeating Germany. Even Cruyff’s Holland made the mistake of being a bit of defensive in the second-half of World Cup final 1974 where, surprisingly, they opted to go for the counterattack, which was un-Dutchis-type, and were never able to dent the German defence which loved this sort of tactics.

I am not all worried about the Brazilian defence. Rodrigo Caio, Marquinhos, Zeca and Douglas Santos are in brilliant touch while the presence of Wallace in that box-t-box region gives Brazil’s defence and midfield the compactness which had been absent since a joke named Dunga took over Brazil’s coaching job. Even if Germany press forward, it won’t be easy to dismantle these four men.

One thing Micale must keep in mind and that is, Germany’s attack in the air. The Germans are extremely dangerous in the air and are the masters in winning the aerial battles. The Brazilian wing and centre backs must be very alert when the ball crosses in the air and enters into the danger zone. This is the only thing which is giving me mild headaches, otherwise, I think, Brazil are the favorites to win the gold.

I trust in Rogerio Micale.    

The glory days of Joga Bonito will be back.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar