The former defender Ricardo Rocha recalled, in participation in the CNN Esportes S/A this Sunday (9), behind the scenes of winning the tetra in 1994 and the origin of the gesture of entering the field hand in hand — a symbol of the unity of the Brazilian team during the campaign.
Excited, the world champion stated that the team’s comeback began in Recife, after a period of strong pressure.
The former defender said that the gesture of holding hands was inspired by a memory from his time as a player for Santa Cruz, in the 1980s, and that it came to mind during a complicated phase of the Seleção.
Hand in hand, you know you were created by me. In my land. When we were being booed, we were being booed in several places here in Brazil. When we go to Recife, I, thank God, made an appeal to the press. I had a lot of friends of mine and I said: ‘For God’s sake, help me’.
explained that the hostile atmosphere after the defeat to Bolivia, in the Qualifiers, was a turning point for the group.
“We lost 2-0. Everything was wrong in that game. And we said: ‘My God, what we went through there, we can’t go through in this World Cup'”, he recalled.
The former player was moved when he recalled the personal meaning of that moment and his return to his hometown.
It’s very emotional for me, because that boy from ’83, who grew up there, returns to his homeland. For this land to embrace, for us to win that game, which is Brazil’s sprint, and give back with everything to our land, world champion. Few things move me, this moves me because we suffered a lot.
Film story and gratitude
Upon returning to Recife, the former defender proposed to the coach and his teammates that he enter hand in hand, as a symbol of unity and response to distrust.
Then I called Ricardo Gomes, Raí, Branco… and said: ‘Brother, this is happening here, let’s go in hand in hand’. The guys agreed. I’ve never seen that, the atmosphere. It was 5-0 in the first half against Bolivia. And those holding hands go from Recife to the last World Cup game with Italy.”]I said: ‘Professor, I wanted to say something. Can I go in holding hands?’ […] Then I called Ricardo Gomes, Raí, Branco… and said: ‘Brother, this is happening here, let’s go in hand in hand’. The guys agreed. I’ve never seen that, the atmosphere. It was 5-0 in the first half against Bolivia. And those holding hands go from Recife to the last World Cup game with Italy.
Ricardo Rocha highlighted that the gesture represented the collective strength of the team until the victory in Los Angeles.
“Those holding hands go from Recife, my hometown, to Los Angeles, the land of cinema. Because that was the story of a film. And we started to win four in Pernambuco”, he stated.
Ricardo ended the memory by highlighting the value of the collective spirit in conquest.
It’s the group. No one wins anything alone in life and nothing. You here have a group behind you that gives you support, gives you affection. Then it’s you who holds the wave, I trust in myself, but I have my back, I know who is behind me to help me. So, everything is the group, everything is about you thinking about the group.
CNN Esportes S/A
With Ricardo Rocha, four-time champion, it reaches its 116th edition. Presented by João Vitor Xavier, the program goes behind the scenes of a market that moves billions and is one of the most profitable in the world: sport.
On the agenda, the hottest topics in the football world industry, from the perspective of economics and business.
