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發表於 2005-11-25 00:49:57
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The history boys
Steve Wilson
As Brazil tore apart Argentina in this summer's Confederations Cup final in Germany, in the process firmly establishing themselves as favourites for the World Cup to be held in the same country, they were also opening hostilities with another opponent. A distant opponent they will never get the chance to test themselves against.
Football fans are all amateur historians at heart and debates constantly rage over the merits of players and teams from previous generations. As time passes, figures from the past take on a mythical status, with their reputations destined to remain unaltered by further examination.
Nowhere more so than in the spiritual home of football. The current side - boasting such glittering attacking luminaries as Kaka, Adriano, Julio Baptista, Ronaldo, world player of the year Ronaldinho and the 'new Pele', Robinho - even by Brazilian standards has to be rated as one of the best ever. But the question on everyone's lips is: can they ever hope to eclipse the great team from the 1970 World Cup?
The original Pele - Edson Arantes do Nascimento - thinks it is impossible to compare.
'Six months before the World Cup I think Brazil has the best team,' says the legendary three times World Cup winner and scorer of 1281 career goals in 1363 appearances.
'To compare with 1970 is a little complicated because before 1970 some newspapers used to compare the team from 1958, which was special, with the team from 1970. My point of view is that in 1958 we had more individual players than in 1970 - Didi, Zagalo, Santos, Garrincha...
'What we had in 1970, as well as good players, was time to prepare. I remember back then, because we didn't have too many exhibition games, we played together, with the qualifiers and the preparation, for one whole year. Then the side became a real team.'
With such heavy demands on players today from their clubs as well as international commitments, Pele fears that the current Brazil side can never hope to replicate this sense of togetherness.
'[Carlos Alberto] Parreira doesn't have one year to practise with the players. They have good players who play for different teams. Individually they are very good, no doubt - two great players in each position. But maybe as a team it is complicated. It is difficult to compare with 1970. They were more unified - Tostao, Jarzinho, Gerson, Rivelino...
The burden of being pre-tournament favourites, something that Brazil have become accustomed to over the years due to unparalleled success on the biggest stage, is, however, unwelcome in Pele's eyes.
'Every national team that goes to the World Cup as favourites has problems,' he cautions.
'The last time it was France and Argentina - they didn't qualify; In 1982 Brazil was the best team in Spain - they didn't win; Holland was twice, in Germany and Argentina, the best team - they didn't win.
'I warn against being favourites. But Brazil has a good team, no doubt.'
The successful side of 1958, so far, are the only non-European team to win on the continent, in Sweden. With the majority of the Brazilian squad based with European teams the task this time seems easier though 'it is not only an advantage for Brazil as a lot of nations have most of their players playing for big clubs in Europe now.'
'It was my first World Cup and I was 17-years-old,' reminisces Pele of the 1958 tournament. 'To be with the team was like a dream for me. It was my first time travelling in Europe. The Brazil team trained near the Swedish team and the England team, and France was close as well. I looked around and saw that only Brazil had black players. I thought 'why don't the other teams have black players.' I was surprised.'
That has since changed and, aside from his immeasurable contribution to the playing side of the game, Pele also takes great pleasure in having represented black players during a time of social change.
'Now I travel with Brazil and FIFA and see that every team has black players, all over the world. The social situation has changed. It makes me feel proud to be part of that.
'Football brings everyone together. Football is the biggest family in the world: FIFA has more affiliates than the UN. I feel proud, also, to be part of this social contribution.'
Pele's reputation was built on a sense of fair play as much as it was for his wonderful array of skills and he feels some of this spirit is being lost in the modern game.
'The way young players play the game and treat each other has changed a little bit,' he says, 'because there is too much money involved. This is a danger for the future of football. I make a joke about some players - they sign with Real Madrid in Spain and kiss the shirt and say: 'I love you Real Madrid.' Tomorrow they go to Manchester United, kiss that shirt saying: 'I love you Manchester United.' It makes me laugh.'
Speaking at the launch of the Aspire Sports Academy in Qatar alongside Diego Maradona, Pele was unwilling to add to the debate on which one of the two South American legends was truly the greatest.
'I have a big responsibility but I try to give back the love people give to me,' says Pele, clearly versed in modestly avoiding this particular inquiry. 'I am human and I can make mistakes, but I try not to disappoint people.'
186 million Brazilians will be hoping the same of their heroes in yellow and green in six months time.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=350000&cc=4716
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發表於 2005-11-21 22:29:35
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