Frankfurt, Germany – Do they do the samba in Germany?
Brazilian fans plan on dancing their way to Berlin and back for a record sixth World Cup title, and if anyone can knock off their team, you can bet some Italians or English or Argentines will be doing the samba, too.
How good is Brazil? Sir Bobby Charlton, a star on England’s 1966 World Cup champion and now on Manchester United’s board of directors, says Brazil is better and more heavily favored than four years ago when it defeated Germany 2-0 in the final.
“Whoever beats Brazil,” Charlton said last week, “will win the World Cup.”
What makes Brazil, training outside Frankfurt in Konigstein, is an array of superstar talent that has turned the club into the planet’s glamour team for the better part of 15 years. Add probably the most attractive, creative brand of soccer in the world and a musical approach that frees the players from the massive national pressure crippling other teams and you have an aura that transcends sport, continental boundaries and, often, imagination.
Let’s start with Ronaldinho. At 26, the midfielder is the consensus best player in the world and he has two straight FIFA world player of the year awards to prove it. Considering he led Barcelona to the Spanish and Champions League titles, another World Cup crown likely would earn him a record three straight.
Teams can’t concentrate on him without ignoring a teammate who already has won three player of the year awards in Ronaldo, one of the best strikers in history. He has 59 goals in 92 caps and has been on the national team since 1994, yet at 29 is still young enough to warrant stardom at star-studded Real Madrid.
Coming up on Ronaldinho’s heels is Robinho, a 22-year-old wunderkind who has been compared to Pele with his magical dribbling and 2002 and 2004 Brazilian titles with Santos, Pele’s old team.
Even Brazil’s one alleged weakness isn’t a weakness anymore. Brazil never has been known for its goalkeeping, but Dida has developed into one of the world’s best at AC Milan and is entering his third World Cup.
Think soccer’s boring? Watch Brazil play.
“Brazil is the overwhelming favorites,” said Scotsman Derek Rae, a former BBC soccer commentator and now a European soccer analyst for ESPN. “If you look at one through 11, it’s difficult to say they’re not the favorite. Behind Brazil there are three or four teams who can certainly beat them in one match.”
True. However, the chief challengers have developed flaws so gaping one wonders how any will escape group play. Over the winter, Italy was considered an insider’s pick to knock off Brazil after it beat Germany 4-1 in a March 1 friendly.
Italian coach Marcelo Lippi furthered his emphasis on offense by adding Filippo Inzaghi to his stable of dangerous strikers. A two-time World Cup veteran once considered over the hill at 32, Inzaghi tore up Serie A with AC Milan this season.
Last month, however, a bribery scandal shook the soccer- crazed nation. Four major clubs – AC Milan, Lazio, Fiorintina and 29-time champion Juventus – are accused of influencing league officials to get favorable referee assignments and possible match fixing.
It doesn’t appear the investigation, which has included 41 people in its dragnet, will cost any players World Cup appearances. Italian judges say this investigation will take months.
Also, Francesco Totti, considered one of the best passers in the world, has played only three games since fracturing his ankle in February and defender Gianluca Zambrotta, Italy’s most versatile player, has been ruled out of the first two games because of a thigh strain.
Brazil’s other major challenger has injury problems of its own. Wayne Rooney, England’s deadliest scorer and its best player in years, broke his foot April 29 while playing for Manchester United and has all been ruled out of group play.
Charlton said Rooney’s absence, “could be the difference between winning and losing. He’s such a good player, not only for what he can do individually but what he does for the rest of the players.”
That leaves Argentina, which has the products of three FIFA world youth titles on the national squad; Netherlands, as impressive as anyone in Europe in qualifying; Germany, which has the home crowd but may be too slow; and France, which has the experience but may be too old.
Looking for a dark horse? Take a flier on Ivory Coast, which has eight starters on top leagues in Europe. Or Serbia and Montenegro, which gave up only one goal in qualifying.
Staff writer John Henderson can be reached at 303-820-1299 or jhenderson@denverpost.com.
