The Football Tragic

Brazil beating West Germany 4-1 at the height of the Tele Santana era might conjure up images of a superb, timeless display of jogo bonito. In reality, things were a bit more complicated...and interesting.

One of the abiding mysteries of the 1982 World Cup in general, and of Brazil's performances in particular, is why Santana persisted with the burly but maladroit Serginho up front, when so many of the stylish midfield build-ups came to nothing thanks to the big centre-forward's clumsy first touches. I think the Seleçao's final two games at the Mundialito, and their encounter with the Germans in particular, go some way to explaining why Santana showed such faith in Serginho.

The Germans, of course, had nothing to play for. Furthermore, their powerful striker Horst Hrubesch was ruled out of the game with angina pain. His place was taken by the unassuming Borussia Dortmund midfielder Mirko Votava, which meant that Karlheinz Rummenigge was given a thankless lone striker role. The Brazilians, by contrast, could reach the final if they won by two or more goals. Once again, however, they played Socrates at the point of the attack - and it was clear that the Corinthians general was not happy in the role.

The winger Paulo Isidoro, who had caused plenty of problems for the Argentinians, was assigned to the capable care of Hans-Peter Briegel, Diego Maradona's nemesis. And with Socrates unable to help out Toninho Cerezo in midfield, the Brazilians found fluency hard to come by in the opening stages. In fact, it was the Germans who secured the first real chance, with Rummenigge - often surrounded by as many as three Brazilian defenders - forcing a save from Joao Leite in Brazil's goal after 20 minutes.

Isidoro skied a shot from a careless back-header from Felix Magath, and Socrates and Junior had successive shots blocked after a clever dummy by Batista. At the other end, Manfried Kaltz, who would later go off injured, and Rummenigge failed to make the most of half-chances. It was 0-0 at the break, and the football had been uninspiring. Despite the Germans' occasional, and understandable, slackness in defence and midfield, Brazil had been unable to take advantage.

Brazil gradually upped the tempo in the second half, but Toni Schumacher saved well from Cerezo just after the restart, and Socrates missed another opportunity soon afterwards. On 54 minutes, somewhat against the run of play, Germany went ahead. Rummenigge, for once finding space on the right, crossed to Hansi Muller, who pulled the ball back for Klaus Allofs to apply a close-range finish.

Then Santana made an important decision: he took off the largely ineffective Tita and brought on Serginho, and Socrates withdrew into his more familiar midfield role.

Immediately Brazil looked a more balanced side, and they equalized in short order, Junior scoring with a marvellous free kick from 20 yards. From that point on, with the Germans no longer looking interested, Brazil had the run of the field. A second arrived when Cerezo, criminally unmarked, strolled into the area and connected with Edevaldo's right-wing cross.

The crucial third goal came thirteen minutes from the close. Socrates, running from deep, was played through on goal; riding a feeble tackle from Bernard Dietz, he prodded the ball past an advancing Schumacher for Serginho to slot the ball into an empty net. The big Sao Paulo striker had done nothing outstanding in his time on the field: he had merely allowed others to be more effective elsewhere.

There was time for another goal, and this time Serginho played provider, sliding a clever reverse pass into the path of Zé Sergio, who rode Schumacher's attempted challenge and scored from a tight angle. 

Brazil, then, had scored a handful of goals against an uncommitted team to reach a final on goal difference ahead of Argentina. There would have been many present who would have appreciated the irony, after the controversy of Rosario in 1978.

Pound for pound, Brazil should have been the favourites going into the final. But they could count on a raucous Montevideo crowd, and a Uruguay team now brimming with confidence.

Stay tuned for Part 5.

# posted by Mike Salter @ 4:20 PM