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Aside from the dubious Nike contract requirements (that Brazil
always fields its first team – even in friendlies) Brazil’s
football team are essentially the national ambassadors for the
country. Who could name Brazil’s foreign minister?
But ask
their best striker’s and you would get a response in 90%
of the countries in the world. As ambassadors for the country it
is always expected that Brazil will field the best 11 players.
In this particular game given the political back drop had even
prompted the Brazilian President to ensure that the Brazilian first
team would play.
But when domestic leagues are just starting in Europe is a friendly
on the other side of the world a really good idea? AC Milan and
Bayern Munich obviously thought not. The CBF’s request for
Cafu, Kaka, Dida, Ze Roberto and Lucio was refused. According to
FIFA rules a club cannot refuse a countries request for a player
if the game in question is a FIFA recognized event.
However the
clubs were within their rights to do so as they have an agreement
with the Brazilian FA whereby they have no obligation to release
players for friendlies outside Europe. Which they rightly brought
into play.
Carlos Alberto Parriera was incensed about this decision, not
so much the clubs stance as any national team coach always has
problems with clubs (witness Alex Ferguson whenever an international
is played.) but for Parriera the problem was that the players didn’t
seem to mind that there clubs were unwilling to release them.
Indeed
in Parriera’s eyes the players didn’t do enough to
put pressure on the clubs to release them. This led to the Brazilian
coach issuing an ultimatum either you come and play or I drop you
from the team.
Need less to say the players didn’t go and true to his work
Parriera dropped them from the next two games including the world
cup qualifier with Bolivia (3-1 win). That seemed like punishment
enough, however Parriera and certain sections of the Brazilian
media seemed to agree that there punishment should continue to
the friendly with Germany (1-1) in Munich.
Cafu was stunned. "This is the first time in 14 years that
I've been left out of the squad and I can't understand what has
happened," he said. "I did everything possible to be
released but I've been punished." Indeed it did seem a harsh
way to treat a player who has never let his country down in the
course of 126 caps.
There are now so many Brazilian international
players playing in Europe that CBF has agreed to play the majority
of its mid-season friendlies in Europe. Obviously this carries
an added benefit of increased revenue from ticket and tv rights
sales. But the fact remain that although they are born Brazilian
the players wages are paid by the major European teams. With the
Brazilian President seemly willing to use the team as a political
tool it looks like the tug-of-war is set to continue.
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