Word: dunga
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...Just 15 minutes into Brazil's recent World Cup qualifying match with Ecuador, when the teams had yet to find their feet and their rhythm, the fans at Rio's legendary Maracanã stadium were calling for the head of Dunga, the single name used by the former team captain who now serves as its coach. Brazil eventually awoke from their sluggishness and scored five goals without reply, and the fans were singing again - but the truce was temporary. A few months later, as Brazil faced its arch-rival Argentina in a 0-0 draw, the coach was again...
...That Dunga is the scapegoat for Brazil's bad run of form is hardly surprising in a country that one of his predecessors once described as having 180 million coaches. But the players he chooses are also coming in for flak in a controversy that has raised the question of just what it means to be Brazilian. Many fans believe that when Brazilian players make it big and are signed to play for major European professional teams, they lose their identity and national pride. (Indeed, there are currently more than ten other countries, ranging from Spain and Portugal to Croatia...
...today's Brazilian teams, for every Ronaldinho playing the Mozart role in midfield, there's a Dunga or a Kleberson or an Edu playing Salieri - a hardworking ball-winner who is ensuring that the opposing midfielders get little possession. And gone is that best-form-of-defense-is-attack sensibility of their forebears who always looked like they were having as much fun as a bunch of guys playing on the beach. The Brazilian teams of 2002 (winners), 1998 (beaten finalists) and 1994 (winners) have looked a lot more dour and efficient than their fabulous forebears. Then again, the fabulous...
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