There is almost a consensus that, on average, this year’s Brasileirão was better than previous ones, in individual and collective quality. The presence of foreign coaches and good signings strengthened the teams.
They say that a good hire is the one that works. To do this, it is necessary to combine scientific knowledge with the ability to see details, to make the right choices, characteristics of the Brazilian school. Obviously, there are good and bad coaches in every country.
A team’s strategy is much more responsible for the intensity and vibration of the players than the will of each one. Abel Ferreira, when saying that Palmeiras had no soul in the 1-0 defeat to Fluminense, should introspect, reevaluate the team’s way of playing, which does not usually use pressure regularly to recover the ball quickly, a characteristic of teams that they overflow their soul on the field.
One of the developments in Brazilian and world football is the greater efficiency of crossings, whether from dead balls or in motion. Some cross with enormous precision. The ball comes out strong, in a curve and without rising much, passing over a defender’s head, without giving the goalkeeper a chance to leave the goal. The teammate runs, takes off and heads.
Another evolution is that of pointers, generally left-handed who will play on the right. They dribble to the center and finish or make decisive passes. Some learned to dribble to the side and cross with the right foot or the outside of the left foot, as a trivela. Spaniard Lamine Yamal and Brazilian Estêvão, two young people close in age, are very similar in talent and physical and technical characteristics.
In Brazil, several collective difficulties still prevail, such as the inability to defend and advance as a block. The defenders are very far back when the midfield advances, leaving many spaces between the two sectors. Teams do not need to play with defenders on the midfield line, as Barcelona and some European teams do, but they should not play with defenders so far back, glued to the penalty area. They could adopt an intermediate position.
Because of some exceptional moments, fans and the press in Brazil tend to create expectations above reality. With this there is frequent disappointment.
Cruzeiro and Bahia, who competed in the last round for a place in the Libertadores, which went to the Bahian team, had expected campaigns, according to the quality of the squad. Apart from some excellent one-off signings, such as Cássio from Cruzeiro and Everton Ribeiro from Bahia, the squad is just regular, compatible with eighth and ninth place in the Brasileirão.
Atlético-MG has some special players, but the reserve team selected in several Brasileirão matches to spare the starters does not have the quality that the board, fans and many journalists thought they had. That’s why the team was almost relegated.
Because of the glorious history of Brazilian football, there are great controversies about the current quality, individual and collective. The analyzes fluctuate, from exaltation to mediocrity, depending on the results.
This is also the country, rich and miserable, generous and corrupt, beautiful and violent.
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