3 REASONS WHY GOAL AGAINST PERU SHOULD NOT BE USED AS AN EXCUSE FOR BRAZIL’S DISMAL PERFORMANCE
Unless you have been living under a rock, the five-time World Cup winners, Brazil, were eliminated from the Copa América Centenario. This was a tournament where Brazil aimed to restore their reputation after the infamous 7-1 thrashing by Germany in the 2014 World Cup, followed by their exit at the hands of Paraguay in the 2015 Copa América. Many have pointed fingers at Dunga and the highly controversial goal from Peru, but are these just distractions from the fact that the once-mighty Brazil has deeper, more pressing issues that need to be addressed?
Not Addressing the Issues
Unless you are truly biased, it would be difficult to find someone who could deny Brazil’s status as one of the greatest teams in football history. After all, they have won five World Cups! However, upon closer examination, their decline arguably began during the 2002 qualifying campaign. The team cycled through numerous coaches and barely secured qualification, scraping through with a victory over Venezuela. They struggled immensely, but ultimately, the return of Ronaldo and individual brilliance propelled them to success.
Brazil’s performance at the 2002 World Cup was far from dominant. They were poor against Turkey, and Rivaldo’s embarrassing play-acting remains a moment many would like to forget. Meanwhile, teams like Spain and Italy were controversially eliminated, and Brazil’s toughest challenge came against an imperfect England side. In the end, they triumphed over a Germany team that had relied on luck and the heroics of Ballack and Oliver Kahn. Brazil won, and for many, their problems were swept under the rug.
Since then, Brazil has stumbled along, occasionally silencing critics with morale-boosting victories in the Confederations Cup and the Copa América titles of 2004 and 2007. However, despite these trophies, many remained unconvinced—Brazil was not playing well. As long as they kept winning, change seemed unnecessary.
The 2006 squad, packed with talent—featuring Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Adriano, Kaká, and others—failed to truly deliver on the world stage and was eliminated by a Zidane-led France. By 2010, many were wondering who the next generation of Brazilian stars would be. Hopes were placed on players like Diego, Robinho, Ganso, Oscar, and a young Neymar, but apart from Neymar, none truly lived up to expectations.
Under Dunga, Brazil adopted a counterattacking style that delivered trophies but failed to win over the fans. Their 2010 World Cup exit at the hands of the Netherlands saw fingers once again pointed at the coach. Perhaps Brazil assumed that a new wave of talent would emerge naturally—but that never happened.
When analyzing the last three Copa Américas and the World Cup performances, one must ask: where are the prolific goal scorers and the creative midfielders that once made defenders tremble? The fact that the current squad had to consider recalling veterans like Kaká and Ricardo Oliveira is a glaring sign that player development has stagnated. The harsh truth is that Brazil has failed to address the real underlying issue: they are no longer consistently producing world-class talent.
While coaches have been blamed, the reality is that the talent pool has dried up. Rather than scapegoating managers, the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) must confront these deeper issues—or risk an even steeper decline.
Tactically Outdated (Scolari? Parreira? Dunga?)
Scolari was the last coach to guide Brazil to World Cup glory. Since then, several managers have tried to restore Brazil’s dominance but have fallen short. Parreira, Dunga, and Menezes all failed to bring the national team back to the summit. Some may argue that winning the Copa América titles in 2004 and 2007 was significant, but for a nation with Brazil’s pedigree, those victories were mere consolation prizes.
The 2004 title was fortunate, and in 2007, Brazil wrestled their way to a 3-0 victory over a strong Argentina side using an uncharacteristically physical style of play. While denying Argentina two trophies provided some satisfaction, the joy was short-lived, as fans remained unsatisfied with Brazil’s style of play.
Historically, Brazil has been synonymous with beautiful, expressive football—flair, creativity, and passion. However, in recent years, they have shifted to a more physical, counterattacking approach. Ironically, some of Brazil’s harshest critics have been their own fans, many of whom were calling for Dunga’s dismissal after the 2010 World Cup.
Football has evolved. The gap between teams has narrowed, and modern football demands adaptability. At the highest level, matches are often decided by moments of individual brilliance. While tactical discussions are endless, the reality is that teams can no longer rely solely on technical ability. The modern game demands pace, possession, precision, and tactical flexibility.
To his credit, Dunga tried to instill a more pragmatic approach, even at the cost of the flair traditionally associated with Brazilian football. Scolari, too, was never shy about implementing a physical, hard-nosed style, even openly encouraging aggression when necessary. Menezes attempted to integrate emerging talents like Neymar, Ganso, and Oscar but ultimately failed to build a cohesive team.
Today’s footballing elite prioritize speed, pressing, and tactical intelligence. Teams must work relentlessly to regain possession, execute quick transitions, and put in the hard yards. The era of relying on a single style of play is long gone—teams must evolve or be left behind.
Brazil once blended immense athleticism with technical brilliance, but crucially, they also got their tactics right when it mattered. Even Scolari admitted that he borrowed Argentina’s formation in 2002, which played a key role in Brazil’s success.
However, Brazil lacks a truly world-class coach. The last manager who arguably deserved that title was Zagallo. If the last six years have proven anything, it’s that Brazil’s problems extend beyond the players—they also lie with those in charge.
Holding Onto the Past
Yes, the Seleção is a five-time world champion. Yes, they have played beautiful football and left an indelible mark on history. But is Brazil clinging too tightly to past glories?
There is no denying that Brazil has earned the right to boast about its achievements. However, has the time come for a reality check? Since their 2002 triumph, Brazil has been in a steady decline, with sporadic successes merely serving to distract critics from deeper issues.
Unlike Germany, which has continuously modernized its approach, Brazil has frequently defaulted to past successes, clinging to them like a safety net rather than facing the harsh reality of their situation. Their catastrophic 2014 World Cup campaign was a testament to this misguided confidence. It seemed as though Brazil believed their legacy alone would carry them forward—until reality struck in the form of a 7-1 humiliation.
If Brazil does not recognize the need for systemic changes—both in player development and tactical evolution—they risk fading further into mediocrity. The world of football has changed. Has Brazil?
Holding onto the past
Yes, the “Seleção” are the five-time World Champions! Yes, they played beautiful football and made their mark on history! However, it seems Brazil are desperately holding on to these past glories. Take nothing away from Brazil: they have earned the right to make such a boast but has the time come for them to wake up? Brazil, after 2002 World Cup, have been in steady decline and they won a few trophies in between to detract critics, but, unlike Germany, they have continuously defaulted back to their past glories clinging to them like a safety net in an attempt to maybe not face the harsh reality of their situation. 2014 is a testament to this. It seemed as if Brazil thought it was inevitable that they were going to win this tournament. The players were excessively emotional after every game. Brazil limped on and eventually were dispatched by Germany and they seemed legitimately shocked at what took place. For neutrals Brazil were never in good shape and never looked anything close to winning the World Cup. No one was expecting the 7-1 mauling at the hands of Germany but certainly for close followers of the game no one ever realistically thought they were going to win. Brazil are now putting pressure on themselves to bounce back at every tournament and it seems the weight of their own expectations and past success has made them crumble with each attempt. Brazil may have to accept, maybe for the time, that they “were” great and they have to evolve just like everyone else did. It is only so long you can hide behind those 5 titles.
Author: Andre Sooklal,
OPTA Correspondent
Twitter:https://twitter.com/AndreSooklal
