Brazil are World Cup bores blasts Cruyff
Thursday, 1 July 2010
By John Cross, The
Mirror
Johan Cruyff has launched
a blistering attack on Brazil after claiming he would
not pay to watch the five-time world champions. Dutch
master Cruyff says Dunga’s team are a turn-off
and do not provide enough entertainment despite their
march into the quarter finals. Brazil boss Dunga has
ditched the nation’s traditional style of free-flowing
Samba soccer in favour of a more disciplined and defensive
approach. It has not created as much excitement at this
World Cup and Cruyff says the current Brazilian team
are wrecking their nation’s footballing history.
Cruyff said: “I would never
pay for a ticket to watch the matches of this Brazilian
team. Where has the Brazil team we all know disappeared
to in this World Cup? I look at this team and I remember
people like Gerson, Tostao, Falcao, Zico or Socrates.
Now I only see Gilberto, Melo, Bastos, Julio Baptista.
Where is the Brazilian magic? I could understand why
Dunga has picked some players but where is the playmaker
or skill in midfield? I don’t think any spectator
would pay to watch them."
“Brazil need to play with
more intensity, more bite on the pitch because they
are not special, they are just like any other squad
in this World Cup. Always the fans want to enjoy Brazil,
enjoy their fantasy at World Cups but they do not have
that this summer. They have talented players but they
play in a way which is more defensive and is less exciting.
It is a shame for the fans and the tournament. They
are one of the teams people want to see.”
Cruyff was part of the Dutch Total
Football pioneers and was renowned as one of the most
talented players of all time. Brazil have skilful players
but left Ronaldinho at home, Robinho has shown flashes
of brilliance while Kaka has struggled for form. But
if Dunga can win the trophy again then the former Brazilian
star will be regarded as one of their all-time footballing
legends for what he achieved as a player and coach.
Cruyff’s own country have
also come in for criticism from their own fans and media
in South Africa, having won all four matches but without
the great flair Dutch football is known for. But Ryan
Babel reckons they will finally show their true colours
when they take on Brazil in the quarter-finals on Friday
in Port Elizabeth. Babel said the main focus was winning
and the team’s lack of excitement was more about
their opponents than them.
“I think it is always difficult
to play against teams that don’t want to play football,
who are waiting for you.” Babel said after the
Dutch saw off Slovakia in the last 16. “We play
our better games against teams that want to play football
as well and, on Friday, Brazil is not going to wait
so maybe we can play better than yesterday.”
Babel said the team was not paying
attention to critics. “We don’t really take
any interest in that kind of criticism. At the end when
we win the tournament, nobody will talk about the style
of football that we have been using.”
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