Everyone loves Brazil

[boyofbadgers]

Except that they don't. Maybe.

I was going to write an entry wondering how on earth the Brazilian football team maintain their unusual levels of popularity among fans from other countries. Is it memories of amazing sides past? Is it Ronaldinho's cheeky grin? Or is it because of complex socio-economic factors and/or patronising Western views of plucky poor kids playing barefoot on the beach?

But after reading a fair bit of criticism, both pre and post last night's match, it increasingly looks like your average punter is starting to get sick of the media's sycophantic coverage of Brazil. It remains to be be seen whether this will translate over time into actual dislike of the team, or even ambivalence towards them, but it might just be the first step on the road towards Manchester United style hatred.

So, as is traditional, a poll:

[Poll #747774]

Comments

[tansu.livejournal.com]

There was noticeably less sycophancy on the radio commentary than on the TV commentary, FWIW. I think some of it can be put down to the fact that Motson is thick.

People who rave about the current Brazil team should compare and contrast with the 1970 and 1982 teams. Different class.

Last World Cup I disliked Brazil due to a tendency to being "cheating, diving cunts". This time round I'm ambivalent. I do genuinely like watching Ronaldinho, and I rate Kakà highly.

This World Cup, I've enjoyed watching Germany, Czech Rep and Italy. I've been suprised (then not surprised at all actually, on a minute's thought) that the media haven't talked more about the only game where a team scored 4, that team being Germany.

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

when his companion commentator noted that the camera seemed more interested in the crowd than the game, motty said drily; "they're not such bad judges"

i suspect this was mainly about fearing to be caught out when brazil took it up a notch or two, but they never did

r.kovac was good wasn't he?

[http://users.livejournal.com/xyzzzz__/]

I think it was the other way round. Lawro said it, his voice gets really low for his clever comments.

Also its the 2nd time they've had a go about the organizers announcing that the matches have been sold out.

[boyofbadgers.livejournal.com]

I was listening to the radio build-up when I was cooking tea, and while it didn't quite get to the level of the TV coverage there was an awful lot of OMG they are AMAZING from Jol and the overexcitable Brazilian press dude.

The cheating diving cvnts issue is something I can't get worked up about anymore, esp given the extent to which certain England players seem to roll over at the slightest nudge.

[tansu.livejournal.com]

Ah, didn't hear the build-up, was watching TV programme about post-war rationing.

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

the overexcitable brazilian press dude was AMAZING, whole new levels of COMPLETE WACKINESS.

also jol is aces, we listened to him doing the holland match on sunday and he knows what he's talking about. he doesn't seem to have quite got the hang of radio commentary though, as he went YES!!! when robben scored, despite the fact that the commentator hadn't quite said he'd scored, if you see what i mean.

[boyofbadgers.livejournal.com]

Dude couldn't stop talking, could he? It was v.entertaining, and it was hardly surprising that he was repping for Brazil. Still, it wd have been nice if they could have found a crazy Croatian press dude to balance things out a bit.