It's Time to Unmask the Canes of Brazilian Football

In the passionate world of soccer, Brazil has always been revered as one of the most iconic nations, full of talent and achievements that echo across the world's pitches. However, amidst the limelight and glory of the past, there looms a shadow that obscures the present: the canes of Brazilian soccer.

It is undeniable that the quality of the game played in Brazil has plummeted in recent years. The spectacle that used to enchant crowds is now agonizing in a sea of mediocrity, reflected in truncated matches that lack creativity and emotion. And the excuses? Ah, the excuses... They flood the post-match interviews, diverting the focus from the real problem.

If you look closely at the third round of the 2024 Copa do Brasil, you'll see a bleak picture of the current situation. Fifteen matches, most of them clashes between Serie A and Serie B teams. The result? Only three matches with a difference of two goals or more, while the rest oscillated between draws and minimal victories. Palmeiras, Vasco, Flamengo, Corinthians, Botafogo and Grêmio, all of whom played against teams from the B series, underperformed. Could it be that our teams, which are so often touted as being superior to their South American rivals given the economic discrepancy between Brazil and the other countries in the region, are really that good? After all, they can't hold their own against opponents from the B and C series of local soccer. 

We can't ignore the poor results of the Brazilian national team in recent World Cups. Since winning the World Cup in 2002, the Brazilian national team has seen a decline in its performance at World Cups. In 2006, in Germany, they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by France. In 2010, in South Africa, by the Netherlands. The lowest point came in 2014, when we suffered a humiliating 7-1 defeat at home to Germany in the semi-finals. In 2018, in Russia, the team was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Belgium. And everyone still remembers the shambles at the Qatar World Cup, when Croatia dispatched us. 

If many say that statistics don't lie, let's take a look at them to deepen this criticism. A study by the French company SkillCorner, published by the CIES Football Observatory, reveals that Brazil is below non-traditional leagues such as Sweden, Poland and Greece in terms of running intensity during matches. Could it be that external conditions such as the calendar, pitches and refereeing are the only ones to blame for this scientific data? 

One more point: many believe that Brazil is the world's great storehouse of talent. Are we still producing talent on the same scale as in the past? What great Brazilian players have come close to winning FIFA's Best in the World trophy? We have two valuable players at Real Madrid (Vinicius Júnior and Rodrygo), a rising star (Endrick) and... 

Why are we experiencing this? Could it be our poor base? Are the big clubs more concerned with selling players than training real stars? I have the impression that Brazilian players no longer know how to pass, no longer know how to shoot, no longer know how to finish, no longer know how to head. The basic fundamentals have fallen a long way compared to foreigners. Young Brazilians, born with great talent, are being sold to European clubs and, when they get there, they have to reinvent themselves - which explains why players are bought younger and younger. Not necessarily to give them a longer lifespan on the pitch, but because it takes more and more time to rid them of the traits and vices that come from a bad base. In the old days, stars like Zico and Socrates arrived in teams to be starters. Today, junior players are bought because they will have to adapt to more than just the climate, the city and the food. The process involves teaching basic fundamentals. 

It's unacceptable that a country with a history and passion for soccer like ours should be content with such below-average performances. We need a deep and courageous analysis of the current state of Brazilian soccer. There are certainly several factors that contribute to this situation. Among them, I would highlight the increasingly calamitous management of clubs, drowning in debts created by braggarts who lack professionalism and a real desire to solve the problems of the institutions they run. 

But I don't want to break down each of these factors that denigrate our soccer. Rather, I want to emphasize that the time has come to unmask the canes that sustain this decay and seek real solutions to revitalize the sport we love so much. We can no longer watch the European championships and the Brazilian Championship and be sure that they are two different sports. That soccer is practiced there and here, something that tries to resemble the old Breton sport. And if you look at the average crowds in our leagues, you'll see that they're unbelievably increasing. And contrary to what many people think, this is not a reflection of a better quality of spectacle. Rather, it's the fact that spectators are getting used to and resigned to this low level of soccer. 

If we want to regain our prominent place on the world stage, we must act now. We can no longer hide behind lame excuses. Brazilian soccer deserves more than this. And we, as lovers of the sport, deserve to see our national team and our clubs shine again, with a game worthy of our tradition.