starsoccer

In these times of economic woe and bad news the human tendency is to cling to the familiar and the comforting. The Brazilian football team hammering quality opposition does it for me and many other soccer fans.

No offence intended to Portugal - who have a very entertaining squad- but the news that the ’selecao’ put 6 goals on them last week provided a much needed feel-good factor for a host of fans outside the Iberian Peninsula.

For several generations of soccer fans Brazil have been the by-word for sublime skill. It’s a reputation that can be over-stated - Brazil haven’t won World Cups without engaging in a little physical play and the odd piece of gamesmanship- but for consistent ambition to elevate the game to artistry, the South Americans have no equals.

Reading about the 6-2 scoreline recalled many other occasions when competent national teams emerged from a game at the giant Maracana Stadium, wondering just how they were meant to compete with such supermen. At times even the defeated sides felt almost honoured to be involved.

The mass media age has eroded a great deal of the mystique of the ’samba’ stars and with hundreds of Brazilians plying their trade in Europe, almost every match at a decent level has a representative from that country - and yet still there’s frisson when the national squad take to the park.

In difficult times we look even more to sport (and literature music etc) to provide distraction from the daily struggle. We want some romance from our sporting heroes; an ability to rise above the mundane and create moments of grace, beauty and athleticism.

The best thing about watching the modern Brazil trounce the opposition is the trigger to memories of all the greats from the past. We might be watching Adriano and Kaka now but really it’s an excuse to roll out the mental images of Pele, Garrincha, Gerson, Zico, Ronaldo et al - the ultimate, football comfort food for this period of recession.

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