flickr
videos
community photos
friends of tias
categories
contact
Feel free to contact me for anything related to TIAS, your information will not be shared with anyone.
designated players
not quite ripe, a signature is lost
“Maybe the education of Brazilian footballers these days is being stunted by the sheer speed with which they are exported to Europe when the big bucks come calling.”
-from the BBC
Globalization has many fans, many enemies. It has rewards and consequences. One of the popular criticisms, or worries really, that stands in the face of globalization is the loss of culture. As economies, industries, and ethnic groups merge and marry, distinction is bled, a signature lost. It’s not a mystery; it’s science. Add most any two things together – oil and water an exception to prove the rule? – and while they may retain some of their original forms and appearances, a new material is produced, at least partially on the surface if not on a molecular level.
One might think joga bonito was the exception in the globalization of the global game that proved its rule, but with the world’s best players plying their trade for the big Euros in Europe, the beautiful game is becoming the European game. Or at least that’s one idea to why Brazil’s National Team has appeared so lackluster in the last year (another is simple fatigue).
The theory, right or wrong, is no less intriguing. Should we be worried about the global game becoming the Premiere League? Soccer becoming football (ok, so that might be a good thing)? Joga Bonito becoming Play Beautiful before fading into Play To Win?
I’ll be the first, middle, and last one to trumpet the move of Americans abroad, and admittedly I have Europe in mind. Why is that? So do the players – for the same reasons as the rest of us, and for a few extra zeros on their paychecks. While there might be some unconscious bias due to the familiarity with the leagues there, especially in colonial nations, the fact that European clubs can afford to pay and overpay the players trumps all other reasoning and will continue to draw the finest athletes at the earliest age.
Fine. No surprise there. But is that a good thing when addressed qualitatively?
Writing for the BBC, and (un)inspired by the recent England-Brazil friendly, Jonathan Stevenson suggests after running through the suspects, “Whatever the reason, the child-like thrill that usually accompanies watching Brazil is no longer there. If this is a glimpse into the future of the Brazilian national team, it’s not just their adoring public back home that misses out. The very sport itself will be poorer for it.”
No easy answers here, but something to think about. In our global search for the best players, are we cutting out the root to get to the fruit?
Ric
on Jun 6th, 2007 - 6:19pm
Hm. Interesting idea. Any suggestions for a solution?
Here’s one to start: FIFA imposing a limit on how many international players a team may have, similar to the rule in MLS (although I’d go with a higher number than the current 3 MLS allows).
flaherty
on Jun 7th, 2007 - 6:35am
it’s a different game now, and i don’t know that there’s a way around it. soccer/football is big business the world over and that’s hard to beat. however, with events like local and national 3 v 3’s and additional grassroots tournaments it keeps the idea of the so called beautiful game alive. while the national teams may continue to play the long ball, i’ll continue keeping it simple.
if anyone hasn’t read it already, i suggest picking up a copy of “Soccer in Sun and Shadow” by Eduardo Galeano.
peter
on Jun 8th, 2007 - 7:04pm
i have to disagree with the article, true brazil were certainly not at their absolute best but they still produced some superb football. they totally dominated possession, restricted england to few chances at goal and some of their intricate triangles were like watching barca or arsenal at their best. technically they put england to shame despite the fact it was clear that effort wise england were trying a little harder they still produce the best players in the world by a mile. ronaldinho, kaka, juninho, diego, alves, robinho. in fact more brazilians played in the chammpions league last year than any other nationality. the fact some of the current squad play at slightly less glamorous clubs than normal only proves that they are going through a transitional phase a they seek the next ronaldo or rivaldo. when the time comes brazil will deliver. the almost always do.
leave a comment items marked with * are required