The current era is one of self-amazement, spectacle, enormous technological development, major transformations in social behavior, exaggeration, the speed of things and massive commercial advertisements, even more so in a World Cup.
The Brazilian midfield team has four starters (Casemiro, Bruno Guimarães, Vinicius Junior and Raphinha). Some players compete for the other two spots, with different positions on the field. When Ancelotti says that the team will play 4-4-2, regardless of the lineup, I assume that he is referring to the defensive phase, with four players protecting the four defenders. This is an old concept, present in most current teams, starting with the English world champion team in 1966.
Many things come and go in football. Evidently, the game today is much faster, more intense, more compact, with teams scoring and attacking with many players.
The frequent discussions about whether the Brazilian team should play 4-4-2, 4-2-4 or 4-3-3 are obsolete. The players don’t stop running and, every moment, a different tactical system is formed on the drawing board. Wingers are attackers when they advance and defenders when they retreat. There is no difference between 4-2-4 and 4-4-2, it will depend on the moment of the game. Obviously, teams have individual and collective particularities.
Another daily, unnecessary discussion is whether Brazil should play with four attackers or with a third player in midfield. Is Matheus Cunha a playmaker or a striker, as he scores in midfield and gets forward?
Before the 70 World Cup, Brazil played with two in midfield (Clodoaldo and Gerson), two attackers in the center (Pelé and Tostão) and two open and aggressive wingers. Zagallo took command and replaced left winger Edu with another midfield player (Rivellino). The discussions were the same as today, whether the team should play with three in midfield or four attackers (4-3-3 or 4-2-4) and whether it should have a classic center forward (Roberto) or an attacking midfielder (Tostão) alongside Pelé. Zagallo said, as many argue today, that the team could not have just two in midfield against strong European teams.
The pressure exerted by Pelé and other players on Zagallo to cast me was not explicit, as shown in the film: “Brasil 70 — A Saga do Tri”, shown on Netflix. If there was pressure, it was silent, from the look, between the lines and in conversations in the ear. Gerson, who played for Botafogo under Zagallo, talked a lot with the coach. I didn’t go to Zagallo to say that I had to be the starter, as shown in the film. Contrary to what is shown, Pelé was a conscious, balanced, good-humored and emotionally very strong athlete. For this reason and for his physical and technical conditions, Pelé was the greatest in history.
The film is well made, pleasant to watch, exciting, has great actors, with great reproduction of the main plays and goals, but there are many invented and sensational scenes to dramatize a great sporting achievement.
Bread cake
My condolences to the family of Leivinha, Palmeiras idol, my strike partner on the Brazilian team, champion of the Confederations Cup, at Maracanã, in 1972. Leivinha took the place of Pelé, who had said goodbye to the team.
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