ORDINARY BRAZIL : (we Were Just Not that into You)

You can teach an old dog new tricks but you can't stop it's tail wagging.
That Brazil still possess amongst the best forward players in world football is beyond doubt and this makes the coach Dunga's attempts to turn them into a safety-first counter-offensive side even more deplorable. To the Brazilians great lament Diego Maradona is proving with their great rivals Argentina that it remains possible to retain your natural flair, capture hearts and still win football matches at Africa 2010.
That Dunga has been sacked after Brazil's sorry loss 2-1 to Holland means that public opinion back home will demand a return to the beautiful game. Respected but never loved or particularly liked Dunga's reign will be swiftly forgotten and the present mindset of caution before Samba football will surely be dropped like a stone.
In four years time the world cup will be played on Brazilian soil, there it is hoped traditional values will be restored and new heroes will emerge to go alongside Pele, Garrincha, Jairzinho and latter days, Socrates and Romario. The present line up of Elano, Robinho, Gilberto, Juan and Melo, although hardly mediocre is not one that makes the heart skip a beat. Or that enchants. Surely the duty of any who adorn that famous yellow jersey.
Somewhere, as I write this, in the Rio favellhas there is some scrawny kid playing on a dust bowl pitch, as yet unknown but whom one day will be the next Brazilian superstar. None of the present crop can hold a candle to what has gone previous and a heir to a glorious past is desperately needed for a nation that lives for it's football. For When it comes to the world cup, is there really anything more depressing than an ordinary Brazil?

Cfieldsoffire@aol.com