Win at any cost is a big lose.

Win at any Cost is a Big Lose..

It will be an understatement to say the place   place I was born and brought up is football crazy.  Along with Goa and Bengal, you find fascination for soccer is in the blood of many Keralites.  My own memory of World cup soccer starts from the grainy ViDooradarshan recorded matches of 1982.  My brother and myself would have seen the video of   Brazil- Italy match innumerable times.  We progressed to live matches during 1986 Mexico world cup. And I still recall the night I walked with my father and brother some 5 kilometers on a rainy night to watch Brazil- France match.  That was a thriller. Our home did not have electricity leave alone a TV.  And since then I have not missed a Brazil world cup match on TV.

During those times, when everyone chanted Maradona, a good number of us were fans of Zico and Socrates.  In my own early teenage mind, Socrates and Zico’s place were no less than that of   Bruce Lee, Cheguvera and Bob Marley.

It is a fact that Brazil is the national team of any soccer fan, whose nation does not figure in the sweepstakes of World cup football.  Even to many of my European friends who belong to nations which had won the world cup, Brazil is  the second team they support.

Brazilian team won its place in the hearts of many, by their sheer brilliance, artistry, flair and the way they won and lost matches.   It is said that the loosing team of  1982  Brazilian team of Tele Santana  is the most loved football team in the world. Who can forget the back flick pass of Socrates?

Things changed as Brazil progressed economically and became a solid member of BRICS.   Style was given way to Substance.  In 1994 World cup  they had no hesitation to bring in dour and dull Dunga  in the place of Rai. We all thought,  the old way is back  during 2002, when the  RRR triumvirate  held  sway over the  football field  and  hearts of  many  soccer viewers. 

The way  Selecao had played this worldcup , would have made  Socrates turn in his grave.  They were more focused on  breaking the flow of  their opponent than create  one for themselves.  The  number of fouls they had made against an effervescent  Columbia will tell the real story.  It is also to be noted, the two goals of Brazil came from the  central defenders and that too from set pieces. Infact, I felt, the foul on Neymar,  just showed the frustration of an Columbian team who received no protection from the  Referee.  It was big let down.

Some 4 years back, waiting for  the Final of  World cup between  Spain and Holland to unfold, I  wrote a small piece.

http://thewayiseethat.blogspot.com/2010_07_01_archive.html.   It did come true.

This time, I pray  my favuorite  team loose unless they play  the game the way it should be played.   Hope they realize  that Winning at at cost  is a Big lose  to all of  us  who love this game. With sincere apologies to Joao. ( Who is a good friend.)