Brazil
By Richard Pedler
JAKARTA (JP): The three stars above The Jules Rimet Trophy emblazened on the shirts remind their wearers of the tradition of excellence weighing down the post-Pele golden boys. To win is not enough, and recently even simple victory has recently been beyond Brazil as they approach USA'94.
Failing to win any of three away matches, Brazil also for the first time experienced the trauma of losing a World Cup Qualification match, in Bolivia.
With three teams on 10 points before their last matches, Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira was pressured into recalling troublesome striker Romario, who immediately showed his worth by scoring the goals that prevented the unbelievable from happening: a World Cup without Brazil.
Under Pressure
Perhaps the toughest coaching job of all is Parreira's. As is usual with Rio in World Cup Fever, there have been lots of reports of unhappy stars on the bench - particularly Romario, who has publicly picked his favorite striking partners as Bebeto and Edmundo.
Note that he names two, conflicting with Parreira, who has always stuck with the standard 4-4-2 system, despite Brazil's abject failure in recent tournaments. The previous coaches all eventually left the country to get another job, following public outrage at their team player selections and tactics.
"Brazil will not bore in '94" was the national coach's headline-catching anecdote to his nation's disastrous defensive tactics under Lazaroni. Parreira is now under intense media pressure to acquise to Romario, the 1994 People's Choice, who demands to be partnered by Bebeto (playing deep) and Edmundo at his side. But Parreira's big problem is elsewhere on the pitch.
The Doctor's Heir
Brazil has traditionally produced midfield playmakers of the highest quality, more recently Tostao and Rivelino, Socrates and Falcao. Now The Doctor's brother has taken on the mantle, but so far he's usually frozen at key moments, as if it is all too much of a burden to carry.
Rai is now only a substitute for newly-crowned French League Champions Paris Saint Germain. But who else can replace him?
Despite having four of the world's best strikers on the bench, no other creative playmaker is in Rai's class. "Rai is an idol, and we don't have any others," explains Parreira, who has persisted with him despite media bombardment.
This loyalty spreads to veterans Branco (left back) and Dunga (defensive midfielder), as well as Taffarel, who scored an own goal and saved a penalty during defeat in Bolivia, looking as vulnerable as Carlos was before him.
Yet reliable Flamengo keeper Gilmar, exciting right back Jorginho of Bayern Munich and teenage sensation Edmundo are not regulars.
Brazil's record World Cup scorer, Pele, believes the problem is not so much the current group of players' skills but that "as a team, we are not well enough organized." However, he does think Bebeto and Romario are over-rated; "They would have been only average players in my day."
Coach's Hat-Trick
Parreira has plenty of coaching experience to help him out of a spot, all of it in The Middle East. In fact, he coached the United Arab Emirates at the last World Cup, as well as Kuwait in 1982.
He has also been one of the many foreign coaches of Saudi Arabia.
Brazil are in the toughest and most fascinating group of USA'94. If they slip up as Argentina did, they will have to overcome Sweden, "the best team in Europe," according to Pele. For twenty-four years a nation has been waiting for the FIFA World Cup to arrive in Rio. Is the waiting over, or will Parreira be leaving be on the first flight available?
Possible Line-up: Tafferel - Jorginho - Ricardo - Rocha - Branco - Silva - Rai - Valdo - Zinho - Romario - Bebeto
Tomorrow -- Bulgaria