Duarte’s Corner – The Hubris and Samba Boys

By Fernando Duarte

Robinho, Pato and Thiago Silva are not Santos FC players and therefore they were probably cringing in front of the telly last December when the Brazilian club was on the receiving end of a football masterclass by Barcelona. Nonetheless, this AC Milan trio have been under the spotlight too and they managed to at least give the Catalans two good runs for their money in the group stage of the current Champions League – a 2-2 draw at the Camp Nou and a 3-2 home defeat at the San Siro.

But these three star players are also under scrutiny by those who suspect Brazilian football has been shaken to the core by events in 2011, which saw several clubs struggling in South American competitions. Santos might have won the Libertadores, lifting the continent’s most coveted trophy for the first time since 1963, when a certain Pele was still active, but the failure from the other four Brazilian sides in the main draw to reach beyond the first knockout stage was shocking.

In the Latin version of the Europa League, the Copa SudAmericana, unfancied side Universidad de Chile showed tactical and technical prowess to humiliate 2009 Brazilian Champions Flamengo with a 5-0 aggregate win in the round of 16, and then saw of Vasco da Gama in the semifinals.

The annus horribilis was also extended to the national team, who managed to squeeze out ugly wins in friendly games against minnow opponents (it’s fair to imagine an outcry in the English media if the Three Lions struggled against the mighty Gabon and Egypt) while at the same time they were ridiculously knocked out of the Copa America after wasting four penalty kicks against Paraguay in the quarterfinals – one of them missed by Thiago Silva, by the way.

Silva (truth be told, he also scored a massive header against Barca at the Camp Nou after Pato’s stunning opening goal) has recently admitted in an interview that his team mates at Milanello had been firing cheeky banter in regards to the Selecao’s fortunes. The defender is perhaps the only one of the trio who has escaped heavier criticism and lately has even been on Barça’s wish list. The attacking duo, however, have been getting a lot of flack at home. Especially Pato, who was publicly told off by national team manager Mano Menezes for his lack of accuracy in front of the goal. He and Robinho, as a matter of fact, have been left out of the squad list for Brazil’s first friendly in 2012, against Bosnia, later this month.

Nevermind the obstacle called Arsenal FC this Wednesday. In the UCL, Milan’s Brazilian trio will be dying to shake off some hubris.

AFTERTHOUGHTS

- Brazil’s squad for their first friendly in 2012, where they will face Bosnia in Switzerland in two weeks time, has been announced a few minutes ago. Since Menezes had been talking about prioritising players eligible to play in the London Olympics, the presence of Ronaldinho and Julio Cesar was surprising, for no one was speculating they would be the three over-23 wildcards available for the tournament.

- Lyon v Apoel could be an interesting duel to watch tonight. There’s giant-killing potential and the fact that the Cypriot side is full of Brazilian journeymen.