Brazilian players get the bronze in Beijing. Image: BBC

I think it does. Today I read a nice article from BBC writer Tim Vickery. Here is a small excerpt.

If defeat presents an opportunity to reflect and learn, then last week could have been very significant in Brazilian football.

Brazil’s quest to win Olympic gold was put back another four years after they went down 3-0 to Argentina in the semi-final in Beijing.

Following the match, under pressure coach Dunga was asked if his team had been too defensive. “Playing the same way,” he shrugged, “we won the Copa America.”

A year ago in Venezuela it was Brazil who came out on top 3-0 when they met their old rivals in the final. The game plan was similar - thwart Argentina’s intricate passing moves in midfield and then break at pace down the flanks - and on that occasion it worked.

Read the entire article HERE

Marta cries after the final whistle.

It was unfair. Unfair in so many levels. But we all know football is not fair. Brazil lost the Olympic title to the US today, 1 - 0 on overtime. The Brazilian ladies played with heart, passion and skill. A true portrayal of Brazilian football (something yet to be seen from coach Dunga’s team). Marta was spectacular on the pitch and created amazing goal chances up until the last second of the match. But it seemed like the ball refused to go into Hope’s net.

Brazil was better on the pitch, for the entire initial 90 minutes. They tried, and tried and tried. The US kept their plan and defended as well as possible, counting on the miracle saves of goalie Hope. And she did save them, many times. And in one of the few attacking balls the American ladies managed to push one in.

Seconds before the match ended, Marta looks up the sky and asks: “what have I done wrong?” Nothing, you have done absolutely nothing wrong. Football can be cruel and unfair.

These girls remind us how one should play wearing the yellow shirt. They make me proud to be Brazilian, proud to call that team mine. Each hustle, each run, each tear shows the passion and pride these girls have for their team. It is not about money or fame. It’s about winning even though they represent a country which pays nothing in return (for example, our goalie Barbara is currently unemployed and was playing for free for Sport - what a shame CBF!).

Let’s hope this time CBF will really do something to help out these girls, and not just spill out bullshit and fake promises - something they did after Brazil lost the final of Women’s World Cup to Germany.

I am very, very proud of this team.

I am truly, really, extremely super angry at Brazil’s stupid brainless coach Dunga. So instead of writing today, I am giving you what I feel, after Brazil’s 0 -3 loss against the Argentinians, through the words of my good friend Bruno Romani.

Dear Argentina,

you don’t even know, but you just did a major favor to Brazil. Hopefully, that obscene attemp of coach named Dunga will be fired. Argentina, yes, it was a pretty bad spank. It does not feel good. But, had we won that match (and I wanted it really bad, don’t get me wrong here), that brainless in command would’ve stayed for 2010. The 3-0 gave us the opportunity to fix the plan while we have time. Therefore, thank you!

ps: As far as CBF goes, good job on having now plan for the Olympics. A squad that played only 3 times together in 2 years cannot dream of a gold. But these old lychees never learn.

ps2: Before somebody drops a comment saying “there’s still the bronze to be played”, let me be clear. To me, the bronze in soccer means nothing. It is really good in other sports, like judo or swimming (and I’ve been following Brazil very close in all sports these Olympics), but for soccer, it is just a degree of shame.

The entire first half saw Brazil play a style which did not belong to the players: wrong passes and balls in the air. And as the minutes passed I wondered if there was going to be a replay of last year’s World Cup final, where Brazil fell nervous agains a powerful Germany.

I was wrong. Graças a Deus! At the end of the first 90 minutes, the amazing Marta counter attacked and gave Cristiane a sweet pass, leaving her in front of he German goalie. It was the Brazilian revival!

After that it was samba all the way as the Brazilian girls completely dominated die Deutsche Damen.

Second Half kept the same energy. Marta scored one more on a nice individual run through the right, remembering Ronaldo’s good old days.

Cristiane, very inspired, sealed victory with a fourth goal, after dribbling 4 (yes 4, correct 4, that’s it 4) German defenders.

These ladies (the Brazilian ones) deserve many, many kudos for what they have been doing. For those of you who dont know, while men are making millions to play the beautiful game, these ladies make very little money to do what they love most. And still they find motivation to give their lifes inside the pitch.

I truly hope Brazil takes the gold home this Thursday against the US (Last Olympics they lost the final to the Americans). Not only do they deserve the gold medal for the beautiful football they play on the pitch but I also hope the gold will bring more support from clubs and the Brazilian government.

The name of the game was Cristiane, who scored a beautiful bicycle goal. And the other one was Barbara, the Brazilian goalie, who kept a bunch of balls out of Brazil’s goal. Kudos to the ladies!

Here is the video of Cristiane’s fine fine (half) bicycle goal.

4′ Anderson


33′ Pato

54′ Ronaldinho

61′ Ronaldinho

90′ Rafael Sobis