Giants of Brazil.com:

"For the first time Brazil will go to the world cup as absolute favorites”

That’s one of Parreira’s remarks after his team humiliated their greatest rivals in a match that will be remembered for ages. At least for those involved. Brazil crushed Argentina yesterday with a vast 4-1 score, and while their rivals lamented the loss, the rest of Frankfurt listened to the lively samba beat of the Brazilians as they made their way up the podium.

At seven o‘clock PM the Frankfurt stadium seemed like a battleground. The crowds were uncertain of the game’s result, the players looked ferociously concentrated as they walked in the field, and the rain was beginning to take its toll on the recently renovated cover. However tense the atmosphere was before the game once the referee blew his whistle things looked different than the usual Brazil x Argentina.

They both attacked in the first 10 minutes and though it was too early to pick a favorite, Argentina seemed to have more will than the Brazilians.

That thought however was quickly forgotten when Adriano passed by two Argentinean defenders and without any notice send the ball into the net from the left outside the area scoring his fourth goal of the tournament and beginning to write his name in history.

Only five minutes later Kaka who until then had been sort of hot and cold burned a ball passed Lux that was out of place. Brazil was in front 2 - 0 and from then on it was samba.

The game wasn’t over but Argentina had been hit hard. After the second goal they still played well and had some chances, as many or maybe more than Brazil. But everything went wrong for the south Americans. Figueroa, who at that moment was top scorer had the goal open in one of Argentineans most clear counter attacks, with no keeper to stop him, and missed as the ball roughed the outside of his boots going out. A few minutes later Sorin, who never gave up, send a header into the air and out. The Argentineans pressed and for a moment the score didn’t seem that wide.

However things changed again when less than two minutes after the second half started cicinho sent in a perfect pass into the area and Ronaldinho volleyed it under the Argentinean Keeper’s legs. It was beautiful and fatal. Brazil had no intention of stopping. A few minutes later the newly discovered asset sends another ball inside the area, this time it was Adriano’s head that took it to rest inside the goal.

At that time the rain had grown strong outside of the stadium and even the covered ceiling couldn’t hold the water. A giant sphere appeared in the left corner of Dida’s side and what could only be described as a waterfall came from the ceiling. Luckily it had little effect in the game though some players were very irritated with the problem.

Aimar that had just been sent to play in figueroa’s place headed for the Argentineans and scored their only goal of the game. He would have a couple more chances until the last blow but they would all be pointless as the score 4-1 dragged through the last minute.

Selecao1

With the victory Brazil won their second title in the confederations cup’s history, and it is worth remembering that the last time they won, the score in the final game was an astonishing 6-0 on top of Australia, that had reached the final by tying a game with Brazil in the first round.
Parreira rembered that his team should not be influenced by the favoritism and that this tournament was essential to making his final list of players that will go on with the main team to the world cup. And though it seems to all of us that with Cicinho’s great performance, Gilberto’s firm consistence and Renato’s strong skills, Cafu, Roberto Carlos, and emerson’s positions are very well covered, respectively.

Of course there are still doubts in the “selecao canarinho” , but doubts that every coach in the world would like to have. Robinho might not be able to complete the task of breaking through strong European defenses all the time but once or twice in a game are enough to change its course, so even though some might speculate he’s not ready, he is certainly a factor Parreira and every one of his countrymen are not ready to discard. And there’s Ricardo Oliveira that although wasn’t given much playing time during the cup has performed astoundingly well in Real Betis, winning for the team the Spanish Copa Rei.

And then there is Adriano and Ronaldo, the Emperor and the Phenomenon, as they are known. Adriano has proven to be effective when needed. Ronaldo has had more comebacks than Pele. Adriano has beaten argentina, their most feared and loved rivals of all time, twice and in finals. Ronaldo has taken Brazil to a World cup final, and has won another. They are both strong, they are both talented, and they are both opportunistic players that are impressively able to take their opportunities and capitalize it in goals and tournaments. They are both going to the world cup there is no doubt.

The question is how will Parreira position them. Is Brazil going to keep its “fantastic four” now formed by Ronaldinho gaucho, Kaka, Robinho and Adriano, only by replacing Robinho with Ronaldo? Or is he going to bet on Robinho and have him stand in front with ronaldo, keeping Adriano as his substitute? Maybe he might even bring his team back to its old ways by taking out both Adriano and Robinho and adding a midfielder that would surely be Renato.

Those are the sort of problems “the Professor” has to deal with, and in a guess I’d say he’s quite happy with them. His team showed in the confederations cup final that even without half of its main players they are able to overcome whoever’s standing between them and the cup. And once more they stood in the highest level raising the shiniest trophy and singing their most glorious music. And they explained once more why Brazil permanently occupies the first position in the Fifa/Coca-cola world ranking.