´óÏó´«Ã½

Coming back from a game in the on Saturday, the Rio underground was even more packed than usual. In addition to the football fans there was the revellers who had spent the afternoon with one of the street parties, some dressed as florescent green monsters, off to take part in the night's parade. I was on a train dedicated to the twin pillars of popular culture, music and sport.

In Brazil and futebol help define the national identity. In Argentina and Uruguay it is and futbol. In all three countries the two elements took opposite routes into the national soul. The music came from the bottom and worked its way up. The sport began with the elites and made its way down.

In their early days samba and tango were low class, low prestige rhythms, frowned upon by polite society. Football, on the other hand, was introduced by the British, who had huge trading interests in the region. Along with their industrial products and their railway lines, they brought football, which, with its first world seal of approval, was initially seen as an activity for the sons of moneyed families.

The story of the early years of is one of the game moving socially downwards, being taken up and re-interpreted by the masses, who replaced the straight line running, muscular British style with something much more artistic - and successful.

Read the rest of this entry

There will be disappointment in Brazilian coaching circles that . Many over here were hoping that he would do well - and that this would open doors for other Brazilian coaches to cross the Atlantic.

Establishing themselves with the major European clubs is the frontier that Brazilian coaches have so far not been able to crack.

They start off with an obvious disadvantage - the quality of Brazil's players. When the national team wins the , the stars get all the credit. When they lose the coach gets the bulk of the blame.

This, as would put it, is a tad harsh.

Read the rest of this entry

Who is the greatest player ever - Pele or Maradona? It is a question I get asked all the time. It's a tricky one - and often seems to me a bit like two bald men fighting over a comb.

They were exceptional talents, to be enjoyed rather than compared, especially in the aggressive tone usually employed in the debate.

But the more I think about it the clearer my own answer, for what it's worth, seems to be. They ask Pele or Maradona. I say .

Read the rest of this entry

When small clubs are winning league titles it's often not a good sign. Normally it indicates that standards have gone down.

Uruguay is an excellent example. Just like its national team, has a wonderful tradition. When the , got underway in 1960, - and the second, and to be crowned world club champions (for the second time - ).

Read the rest of this entry