RIO DE JANEIRO, June 6 -- The wounds inflicted by the worst defeat in Brazil's proud football history began healing on July 29, 2017. It was three weeks after Brazil's apocalyptic 7-1 defeat to Germany in the World Cup semifinals and seven days after 1994 World Cup-winning captain Dunga was named national team coach for a second time.
It was also the day that Adenor Leonardo Bacchi decided to stop crying and start fighting. "After the 7-1 defeat, I really believed I would have a good chance to be the next coach of the Brazilian team," Bacchi, better known as Tite, wrote in the Players' Tribune in May.
"I thought it might be my turn. When I was not selected for the job, I'll be honest... I was frustrated, angry, very sad. However, at that moment, I thought of my mother. She was a fighter. Whenever our family struggled, she worked even harder.
"She sewed until her hands couldn't move so that whenever I wanted a soda, the soda would appear like magic. Her example was my inspiration. For a week after that decision (Dunga's appointment), I cried. After that, I started the fight," added Bacchi.
That fight began with Tite, who was taking a sabbatical year and laying out plans for his return to football. The first step saw him travel to Europe to learn from some of the game's top coaches, including Arsene Wenger and Carlo Ancelotti. He returned to Brazil in December 2017 and
immediately accepted an offer to coach Corinthians for a third time. Eleven months later he steered the Sao Paulo club to the Brazilian Serie A title.
Tite remained in the role until June 2016, when he was finally named coach of Brazil, replacing Dunga after the team's group-stage elimination
from the Copa America. At the time of his appointment, Brazil were languishing in sixth place in the South American zone qualifying standings for the 2018 World Cup.
The transformation was almost instant. Brazil proceeded to win nine consecutive competitive matches. In the meantime, they became the first team to qualify for Russia other than the hosts and reclaimed the world No. 1 ranking for the first time in seven years.
"I had the impression that things happen for a reason," Tite said. "When I was not called to be the coach of the Brazilian team in 2017, it broke my heart. But in fact, maybe it was the best thing that happened, because it gave me the opportunity to go back to studying and continuing to learn."
It wasn't just the number of victories that made the football world take notice. Under Tite, Brazil revived the attacking and flamboyant DNA of the country's past generations, netting 30 goals in their final 12 qualifiers compared to 11 in their first six. Such form has led most bookmakers to install Brazil as one of the favorites for the tournament.
Few doubt Brazil's standing as a rehabilitated giant of international football. But has the team overcome the psychological trauma of the 7-1 defeat? According to Tite, the five-time world champions went a long way toward banishing any remaining ghosts in March with a 1-0 friendly victory over their 2017 executioners in Berlin.
"This has a huge psychological meaning, no one needs to fool themselves about that," Tite said after the match.
Veteran defender Thiago Silva agreed. "It was a matter of pride, after all that has been written and said," said Silva, who missed the match in Belo Horizonte four years ago due to suspension. "This jersey deserves a little more respect. That's why I'm overjoyed about winning against a big opponent."
Midfielder Fernandinho says that any lingering apathy among Brazilian fans resulting from the last World Cup will disappear when the Selecao play their first match against Switzerland in Rostov on June 17.
"Brazilians treat the World Cup differently to the rest of the world," Fernandinho told reporters last week. "Shops close and everybody watches the matches. The passion that Brazilians have for football is so strong that when the World Cup starts, fans will no doubt support us. And as Brazil progresses in the tournament, I'm sure the support will only get stronger."
Meanwhile, Brazil's players will be focused on stepping up the fight that Tite began almost four years ago; a fight that this football-obsessed nation is hoping will bring glorious redemption in July.
考研英语作文范文:信用卡
“仇外情绪”当选Dictionary.com年度词汇
研究:睡得越多赚得越多
中国1亿人有抑郁症状 北大2/5新生觉得人生无意义
离死亡不远的老人有哪些感受?
意大利公投失败总理辞职:离脱欧不远了?!
中国二胎妈妈们的新态度
潘基文关于“促进创新和获得保健技术”报告的致辞
圣诞整容手术成新风尚
睡不着?那你的饮食习惯很有可能有问题!
考研英语小作文:申请信范文
伊斯兰国新发言人矛头直指西方、土耳其和伊朗
中国数字化消费何以领先世界
新的食堂 The New Canteen
考研小作文:祝贺信范文
2016年12月英语四级作文预测(一)
妈妈给过你的最好忠告是什么?
亚裔男子申请护照因眼小遭拒 网站提示没睁眼
中企收购英国酒吧 卡梅伦曾邀请习近平到此小酌
陈天桥夫妇捐资美国大脑研究
考研英语范文:心理健康
美国社交网站将联手删除恐怖主义宣传
张艺谋新片引“洗白”争议 主演马特·达蒙称未抢华裔角色
研究显示 办公场所中的自然因素可以提升工作效率
《时代》周刊盘点2016年最炫的科技发明
丁克族被接受吗 Is Dink Acceptable
亚马逊将开首家线下杂货店 不设结账台自动扣款
特朗普:美企海外代工或面临35%惩罚性关税
5条建议教你搞定大学期末考
约定的时间 The Time of A Date
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |