Reading newspapers is a practice that creates synchrony between language, history and destiny in common with other individuals in a nation. This is the central idea of ”Imagined Communities”, a book by English historian Benedict Anderson from 1983. In Brazil, the imagined community is not only felt when reading newspapers, but is also exercised in our fascination with football, a sport that is a national heritage.
Nelson Rodrigues said in the 1950s that we are “the homeland of football boots”. I would add to this the detail of the yellow-green boots swaying to the sound of the samba drums and a good conversation. It is in the midst of a good football match, enjoying samba and enjoying the review, the small talk that brings easy laughter and jocular fun, that we feel most Brazilian.
Boleiros are great reviewers. Vampeta is perhaps the greatest reviewer in the history of contemporary football. But it was Adriano, the Emperor, who managed to review the team’s first match in this World Cup in a “sociologically footballistic” way.
“We were already lining up to enter the field, I gave the order. No one understood anything, but everyone came back. We went into the locker room again. We formed a circle. Shoulder to shoulder. Arms intertwined. I started the conversation. ‘Guys, this isn’t cool. What the hell is this? There wasn’t our song in the locker room today. We didn’t do our pagoda on the bus. Where’s the review? No one made a joke. Damn, it’s not possible. We’re going to lose for ourselves. same?'”
This is how the striker from Vila Cruzeiro, in Rio de Janeiro, called up the Flamengo team in the 2009 Brazilian Championship game, against Atlético-MG, at Mineirão. The story is in the book “Adriano: my biggest fear”, written by the former player with journalist Ulisses Neto. After a lecture that seemed like a mix of a business coach’s lecture and an evangelical pastor’s sermon, the Milan idol closed down the shouting in his own way. “But here’s the thing. If none of this works, if the ball is square, the play is wrong, do this: give it to me. You have the Emperor on your side, damn it.”
We didn’t have Imperador in the team in Saturday’s game, but Vini Junior who took responsibility for himself and scored a great goal. In the second half, Brazil played better, but without convincing. We were happy at the end with the draw, but with the feeling that there was a lack of that integrated football, with the rhythm of samba and review. Nobody saw that collective that a well-played samba at the pagode and a good review promote.
This recipe served Mengão do Imperador well in 2009. They won the game against Atlético Mineiro 3 x 1, with an Olympic goal from Petković, one from midfielder Maldonado and the third from Adriano, Imperador. Following a series of games, Flamengo climbed the table and won the Brazilian Championship. Adriano summed up his participation well: “I’m not going to lie to you, because I’m not like that. I continued taking my Danone. I avoided regenerative drugs, but I trained like a horse. I wasn’t limp, contrary to what they say. When I was there, it was for real.”
We need our Italian professor to invite this billionaire cast for pizza and promote a lecture in the best Adriano style. With his education and elegance present in his soft speech and in that suit and tie that would make Vanderlei Luxemburgo of the 1990s jealous, boss Carlo Ancelotti will give the lyrics: “Boys, more football, samba and review in this World Cup. Train like horses and drink your Danone”. Well, as the Flemish philosopher-singer Jorge Ben once sang, “É Cosa Nostra”.
