El Gráfico #2646, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Back in the good old days, say the 60s and 70s, the top team in world football was arguably Brasil. You were only allowed to play for the national team if you plied your trade in Brasil rather than abroad. Pele for example had offers from abroad and could have earned more money but he wanted to play for his country so remained with Santos until he was no longer selected.
Fast forward to now and we have the spectacle of a not very good Brasil side being eliminated by Norway of all people. There is a tweet floating around that says in the good old days Brasil’s players were womanisers and alcoholics yet still turned in a world class spectacle. There was also a hint that of the Catholic-Protestant divide where I believe the theory says Catholics live life to the full, confess and are forgiven. The Protestants don’t have that luxury and so have to live more sedate lives. I don’t see completely eye to eye with that but there is a hint of an excuse.
The Brazilian football authorities of days past had another reason to use only players who played in Brasil. Their game is based on flair and skill, these attributes, especially the skill side, are somewhat diminished when playing abroad. In Europe the clubs want people who don’t make mistakes or showboat, too much can go wrong.
I am reminded of Wayne Rooney in his youth, probably before he became a granny molester. Those with better memories than mine may remember him in his early Everton days where he was absolutely exhilarating. Then he moved to ManU and got some of his tricks knocked out of him, Alex Ferguson’s team played a certain way and that was it. Ferguson ruled with an iron fist and a hairdryer, no deviation was allowed.
In contrast Paul Gascoigne, as daft as he was, kept playing with flair. I suppose we should be grateful he didn’t transfer to the theatre of dreams. His clubs either didn’t or couldn’t knock the flair out of him, even Lazio in the land of regimented catenaccio.
The same must apply to those Brasilians who currently play in Europe . They obviously had the skill when playing in Brasil but since rocking up in Europe they are forced to play the no risk type of football prevalent here. One of the few who retained his flair and skill was Ronaldinho but he really was exceptional. If we have a Brasilian team who are reduced to playing the same as the European teams this may explain their lack of success.
Nostalgia is great but will we ever know how many of the players of the 60s and 70s opted to remain in Brasil purely to keep their places in the national team. The amount of money on offer in the top European leagues would turn many head and you can’t really blame them.
My abiding memory of Brasil in the 1970s was their really strange defences. They always looked like they were about to concede a goal when suddenly a leg would appear as if from nowhere to dispossess the opposition just before they looked like they would score. It was amazing they were so successful but it seemed to work.
© well_chuffed 2026
