Brazil Needs to Look Inward

There will be time to discuss Portugal; let's focus on Brazil for now. France, the Netherlands (twice), Germany, Belgium, Croatia, and Norway have been the 'Seleção's' executioners in recent World Cups. Interestingly, in 2002, on their way to winning their fifth title, after beating Turkey in the group stage, they only eliminated European teams: Belgium, England, Turkey (again, in the semi-finals), and finally, Germany. However, on that day in Yokohama, even with the strong backing of Our Lady of Caravaggio for a colonel who disciplined egos from the bench, there were at least five world-class players on the field: Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, and Ronaldo Fenômeno, with Denilson on the bench to add flair if needed against low blocks. Today, while it would be hard to find a better coach for immediate results than Ancelotti — who even had an impact on a strategic moment or two — the critical mass of talent is tremendously inferior.

Why? Violence, real estate speculation, and smartphones have taken children off the streets, and football has moved from the unevenness of curbs to the pristine, smooth pitches of academies, devoid of tricky bounces. The country then exports, with some exceptions and often too early, before they can help build (and be built into) the 'Canarinha' identity, almost exclusively workhorse midfielders and fast wingers: Vinícius Júnior, Raphinha, Rodrygo, Martinelli, for example. They no longer send abroad Zicos, Rivelinos, Sócrates, Falcões, let alone Ronaldinhos and Kakás. This is also because youth development now has a European vision, prioritizing strong, tall, and tactically pliable youngsters. The post-Tite era, with interim coaches like Ramon Menezes and Fernando Diniz, the directorial chaos, and the eternal wait for Ancelotti, who alone isn't enough, have prevented Brazil from finding a solution: a long-term plan, starting from the grassroots. The future begins now.