Pros

OPINION: Playing a Part in Brazil's World Tour By Andrew Hush
September 15, 2007
Shortly after his side has completed a 3-1 win over Mexico, Brazil coach Dunga sat in a Gillette Stadium media room answering questions about what had gone before. Hanging on his every word was a pack of reporters whose job it was to detail every single aspect of the experience that is the Brazilian national team.

For that is exactly what the Samba boys are. Not simply a soccer team, they are a box office smash hit. Much like the rock stars that occasionally grace the Foxborough turf (or grass, depending on which day of the week it is), the team over which Dunga presides transcends the sport. The fact that, behind the coach, a banner read ‘Brasil World Tour' should be seen as further evidence of this, rather than mere coincidence.

Traveling up I-84 and the Mass Pike, it was impossible not to notice the number of cars sporting yellow with which I shared the road. Sure, there were Mexico fans, who would show fine support for their heroes but one look into Gillette Stadium upon arrival confirmed that this was Brazil's home game.

As the sides emerged from the locker rooms, the impressive noise was eclipsed only by the sheer spectacle of watching thousands of flashbulbs go off at once as the capacity crowd sought to document the moment forever.

In truth, the scale of the occasion dwarfed the quality of the match that formed its main event. Its ‘friendly' status meant that the quality of play was spasmodic, with each side only occasionally flicking a switch to titillate their devoted viewers.

In fairness to the two sides, it must be said that Baldomero Toledo was a big reason for the on-off effect, as his inconsistent refereeing approach led to good challenges being penalized while blatantly bad ones went unpunished. Note to Soccer United Marketing: next time you get two of the world's best teams in one place, make the effort to reward them with a team of competent officials.

That gripe aside, watching Brazil was a treat. Take Ronaldinho, for example. At times when you thought he looked barely interested, the Barcelona playmaker would contrast that apathy with a moment of genius. After half an hour of doing nothing other than chat with the aforementioned Mr. Toledo, the buck-toothed star held off three attention-seeking Mexicans before threading an inch-perfect pass behind the opposing backline to the on-rushing Kaká.

Ah, Kaká. Another on whom the ‘master at work' moniker is rightfully labeled. Operating in Brazil's fluid system – 24 hours later I still can't exactly work out the system Dunga employed – the Milan star simply went where he chose. When he got there, invariably with the ball attached to his right foot, he flicked lazy passes here and there, before spinning into a new spot to receive the return.

What an easy game it is, as Kaká would emphasize further when rattling home a loose ball with ten minutes remaining for what was ultimately the game-winning strike. Minutes later, Afonso proved that, with Brazil, there is more than one to beat an opponent, as he showed speed and strength to finish off the most route one of goals which, seconds earlier, had originated in the hands of goalkeeper Julio Cesar.

In the aftermath of the match, as the capacity crowd danced its way back to continue the part in the parking lot, the protagonists emerged from their locker rooms for the next biggest part of their job. Dealing with the media is a full-time job for the world's top stars but, for Brazil, the demands are ramped up a further notch.

The mixed zone became a mad zone as each of Brazil's players walked towards the team bus. Desperate cries requesting a soundbite were heard as reporters surged towards the barrier that separated the hoi polloi of the media from the superstars. Sure, it was soccer, but not as we MLS media know it.

And so, as the grass at Gillette was removed and replaced with the lines required by the ‘other' football, so Brazil's globetrotters went their separate ways, to far flung parts of the world to resume their club seasons. They will reconvene in time, ready to charm their next audience. In the meantime, 67,584 indulged observers left Foxborough thinking ‘I was there' on the night the Brazilian bandwagon rolled into town.