Cruzmaltino went through Botafogo and Fluminense before encountering one of his biggest tormentors in the decision; Timão returns to Maracanã 25 years later with the same uniform
What is plot? In samba, it is the story that the school tells on the avenue, through its components, allegories, costumes, handles and other elements that Milton Cunha would be able to explain much better than me. In 1994, for example, Gaviões da Fiel took the story of tobacco to the sambadrome, raised Anhembi and was unfairly disadvantaged in terms of samba lyrics, finishing runner-up. Eternalized in the hearts of Corinthians*, “A Saliva do Santo e o Veneno da Serpente” is sung to this day in the black-and-white stands. Vasco residents do not have a school to call their own — something that Rio culture would hardly allow — but Unidos da Tijuca paid homage to Gigante da Colina in 1998, the club’s centenary year. Today, starting at 6:30 pm, these two giants of Brazilian football will defend on the field the best storyline of the Copa do Brasil.
Yes, even though today’s fans-clients only think about collecting trophies to go on social media and rub them in the faces of rivals they barely know, the epic matters. Grêmio’s Libertadores in 2017 has the same weight as Atlético-MG’s in 2013, but it is not the same title. One featured heroes like Grohe and Luan, it’s true, but a bland final against Lanús. The other? Improbable comebacks, the resurrection of Ronaldinho Gaúcho and Victor’s saving foot. If they competed for the Golden Standard, the Rooster would certainly win.
In this Brazilian Cup, musketeers and Cruzmaltinos excelled. Vasco’s plot is a 10! A sleeping giant, whose history is intertwined with that of Brazilian football, the Rio club has not celebrated a national victory in 14 years. Since then, it has suffered three relegations and seen the celebration of all its rivals, especially the biggest one. Flamengo’s enlightened phase leaves the injured Vasco fan even more ill. The club became a national joke. Has respect returned? What’s more, even Ibis has the right to make fun of anyone who had the Vitória Express in its ranks in the 1950s.
The escape may come from one of his greatest tormentors. Vasco has been a customer of Corinthians since 1930, when the fierce team led by Del Debbio brought from São Januário the title of “champion of champions”, which even ended up in the Corinthians anthem. Timão also took away from its Rio rival the 2000 World Cup (which will soon return to the surface in this text), the 1995 and 2009 Brazilian Cups, the 2011 Brazilian Championship and, to the sadness of Diego Souza, remembered once again due to this confrontation, the 2012 Libertadores.
Taking the Olympic lap around the packed Maracanã would symbolize the redemption of the passionate and suffering Cruzmaltina fans. Who even enjoyed rare moments of joy in the Brazilian Championship — the biggest of which was a historic 6-0 against Santos —, even though he finished the competition in a less than honorable 14th place. And who believed in the duels against Botafogo, in the quarter-finals, and Fluminense, in the semi-finals, rivals who currently sail in calmer waters than those named after the famous Portuguese admiral. However, the money from SAF Botafoguense and the good tricolor phase were no match for Philippe Coutinho, Rayan and the others under the sometimes loved, sometimes hated Fernando Diniz.
But if Vasco fans want to talk about hardships, what will Corinthians fans say, who made suffering an indelible part of their identity (even in periods of good fortune)? Another word inherent in the black and white dictionary is overcoming, which led to idolatry of players like Basílio, Ezequiel, Jorge Henrique and Romero. If they are champions, Timão will overturn the mathematics, which last year gave less than a 0.004% chance of the team being able to qualify for this year’s Copa do Brasil via the Brasileirão. Statisticians were dismissive of the possibility of Memphis Depay and Yuri Alberto shining in a run with nine consecutive victories.
Furthermore, they dream of ending the year with two titles, having both beaten their wealthy rival, who spent more than R$700 million on signings. Not bad for someone who, due to the surreal incompetence of their managers — current and previous ones — was only able to sign two players, the average Angileri and the skillful Vitinho, both reserves.
In the absence of money to invest, the way was to bet on the home saint, as Gaviões da Fiel did in 2019, when reissuing the samba “A Saliva do Santo e o Veneno da Serpente”. Memphis shone against Palmeiras and Cruzeiro, despite the apparent Lucas 2023 handover, interpreted by some black and white fans as the definitive sign that Dorival Júnior will win the Copa do Brasil for the fourth time. Hugo, in a kind of passing of the baton, overcame Cássio in the emblematic penalty shootout against Raposa.
However, the part of the plot that makes the Corinthian’s eyes shine the most is the series of coincidences with the 2000 World Cup. Twenty-five years after painting the Earth black and white for the first time, Timão will return to Maracanã to face the same rival. The uniform, thanks to a tribute from the sporting equipment supplier, will be exactly the same, unless a superstitious advisor to President Pedrinho reads this column — or, more likely, a post on social media from someone with the initials sccp, or even from a profile with the name Gustavo Henrique Bolado.
Those who even wear “lucky underwear” in a decisive game remember that their idol Neto (the Craque Neto) will commentate on the match, just like he did that night on January 14th, alongside Luciano do Valle. As the 1994 Gaviões samba says, “it’s the force of magic, which gives me goosebumps and spreads through the air”.
