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Touchline • Issue 18 • 25
It was this team that forced Brazil into the world’s
consciousness. Tactically innovative and stuffed with world-
class players, they only suffered two draws over both of the
tournaments that they won. After they won the semi-final
and the final of the 1958 tournament by 5-2 scorelines, Brian
Glanville wrote “There was no doubt this time, that the best,
immeasurably the finest, team had won.” It was in 1958 that
the greatest player of all time, Pele, made his international
breakthrough at the age of 17. Less remembered was the
irrepressible Garrincha, a fine crosser of the ball and scorer
of wonderful goals. In fact, in the 1962 cup it was Garrincha
who got Brazil over the line, with Pele out injured.
This team were famous for the tactical innovation of the 4-2-
4, which swarmed defenders with tricky forwards. At the back,
the captain Bellini stepped out of defence to start moves,
while in the centre, Didi sprayed the ball about.
They were so good that at the time it seemed that they
would never be bettered.
World Cup winners - 1970
In 1970, they were bettered. There is something mystical
about this group of players. Not only were they the supreme
practitioners of football, but they also came at the right time.
Football had withdrawn into a more defensive, negative
mood over the late 60s. But when this team took the field, it
was as though the sun had come out. And then there was the
brevity of their ascendance. By 1973, the team had just about
broken up. So they remained a single, brilliant light in the
football sky. As play-maker Gerson said: “Our team was the
best. Those who saw it, saw it. Those who didn’t will never
see it again.”
They played with flair, arrogance and fluidity. At times, they
seemed to be the same organism. They were unstoppable,
winning every match en route to the final, where they
crushed Italy 4-1. Their 4-2-4 formation had evolved with the
players dropping deep and playing between the lines, but you
get he sense that put these players in any formation and they
would have won, by a margin.
Pele is of course the most famous of the 1970 generation,
but every player in the squad has become a legend. Fellow
striker Jairzinho scored in every match. Carlos Alberto
captained from the back and is known as one of the greatest
defenders ever. Clodoaldo terrorized defenders on the wing.
But a measure of this team is they are as well known for their
goals as they are for their players. The eight-man team goal,
finished by Carlos Alberto has long been known as the finest
expression of art in football.
World Cup losers- 1982
The vintage of ‘82 are far more lovingly remembered than
the winners of 1994. In those long, long years between World
Cup wins, the team of 1982 at times played some wonderful
football, reminding fans around the world of what they had
been. Though technically gifted, this squad seemed destined
to fail because of a charming naivety and a lack of truly
world-class players in defence and attack. In the midfield
it was a different story, where they had two of the all-time
greats, Socrates and Zico. Both players could control matches
for long spells and had the trickery to delight audiences. In a
way, they heralded the final days of Brazil’s free-flowing style,
as more pragmatic teams began to win the top tournaments.
They crashed out of the 1982 competition and were quickly
broken up.
World Cup runners up- 1998, winners- 2002
Brazil demanded victory, but victory with style. After
the pragmatic team of 1994, Brazil sought a different
approach. Luckily, they now had the players to create a more
aesthetically pleasing approach. The classically Brazilian 4-2-
2-2 tactic was preserved into the late 90s, and saw Brazil only
succumb to the great French team of 1998. Ronaldo’s famous
blues during the final has become legend, but perhaps this
loss was what was needed to create the finest team since
1970.
Luis Filipe Scolari came in and changed the tactics, moving
to a 4-3-3. Ronaldo scored a record 8 goals in the 2002
tournament, flanked by Rivaldo and Ronaldinho, both
outrageously gifted players. In the centre of midfield, Dunga
fought for the team and carried the water for his more
talented team mates. The fullback position was enlivened by
two of the greats, Cafu and Roberto Carlos. Both were gifted
attackers, which gave this Brazil team an extra dimension.
WORLD CUPWINNERS 1958, 1962
WORLD CUPWINNERS 1970
WORLD CUP LOSERS 1982
WORLD CUP RUNNERS-UP 1998
WORLD CUPWINNERS 2002