Postcards Home
Brazil 1 Croatia 0, 13/6/06
Brazil 2 Australia 0, 18/6/06
Brazil 4 Japan 1, 22/6/06
Brazil 3 Ghana 0, 27/6/06
Brazil 0 France 1, 01/7/06
Read the postcards from the qualification games
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JAPAN 1 BRAZIL 4 22/6/06
By Chris Marks
First Half
With Brazil’s future already decided for the group stage, this match was really a matter of two questions: would the Seleção persevere with Ronaldo, and could Brazilian legend Zico oversee a famous Japanese victory? If anyone is in a position to understand how to beat the champions, it would surely be the ex-Flamengo hero.
Brazil’s lineup showed five changes. Both wingbacks were rested, Cafú and Roberto Carlos replaced with Real Madrid’s Cicinho and Hertha’s Gilberto. In midfield it was all change too, with Émerson and Zé Roberto rested in favour of Juninho Pernambucano and Arsenal’s Gilberto Silva. Up front, Ronaldo was indeed included by Parreira, partnering club-mate Robinho. Adriano was the man to miss out.
Ronaldo started like a man with a point to prove, as he clearly was. After just three minutes, Cicinho’s searching cross was just too far in front of Ronnie for him to make a meaningful header. Moments later he received the ball from Ronaldinho in the area, shimmied with his famous double stepover, and shot powerfully left-footed. Kawaguchi in the Japanese goal did well to keep it out.
The golden tide swept forward again, as Kaká cut in from the left but shot over from 25 yards. In the next minute, the diminutive Robinho moved in from the right, but he was denied by another save from Kawaguchi. The former Santos man then beat two in his next attack, but again his shot was tipped over by the Japanese custodian. Brazil seemed much livelier already than they had at any other point in the tournament, perhaps aided by a positional change which saw Kaká and Ronaldinho regularly switching flanks.
On 19 it was Ronaldo’s turn again, as he shook off a defender and shot from the left-hand side of the penalty area, but was again denied by the ‘keeper. Brazil’s best move so far came two minutes later, when Ronaldinho’s clever flick set up Ronaldo, who held the ball up for the on-rushing Juninho. The Lyon midfielder’s spectacular drive was turned over again and it seemed only a matter of time before Brazil scored.
And then it happened. Japan scored with their first meaningful attack of the match. Brazilian-born Alex’s pass found Tamada, whose drive flew past Dida and into the net with the Japanese side’s first shot of the game. It was harsh on Brazil but maybe a lesson that their defence needs to heed – to pay attention at all times to all opponents.
The stunned Brazil side tried to respond immediately. A bouncing through pass saw Ronaldo head the ball past the goalkeeper, but forced him very wide. His only option was to pass short to Robinho, who set up Ronaldinho. Sadly, the Barcelona man screwed his shot comfortably wide of Kawaguchi’s goal. It seemed the champions’ number ten was going to give another subdued performance. Moments later he went on a powerful dribble through the defence, but on reaching the area, he appeared to run out of ideas and shot tamely.
Just as Brazil were getting really frustrated, they finally scored. Ronaldinho’s crossfield pass found Cicinho on the right of the area, and his header was nodded in by Ronaldo, who in scoring became Brazil’s record ever World Cup goalscorer, moving ahead of Pelé. It gave the champions some encouragement as they went in level at half time.
The players were greeted by constant drizzle as they returned to the pitch. However, one thing that had not changed was Brazil’s attacking intent. Five minutes into the second period, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho combined beautifully on the edge of the area, but the former side-footed his shot wide of the left-hand post.
They were not to be denied long though as just two minutes later, Robinho retrieved an overstruck cross on the left wing. As he moved inside he laid the ball off to Juninho, who unleashed a powerful drive. Although the shot was relatively straight, Kawaguchi managed to blot his copybook by diving underneath the shot and letting it through his hands. It was a massive disappointment for the former Portsmouth goalie who had performed so admirably in denying Brazil in the first half.
Brazil began to look increasingly confident as they dominated proceedings, moving forward in wave after wave of skilful attacks. A deep cross from Gilberto on the left found Ronaldo, but this time his header was comfortably saved by Kawaguchi. Barely an hour into the match the champions scored again, after a superb Ronaldinho through pass found Gilberto free on the left. The Berlin-based wingback strode into the area, but with Ronaldo unmarked in the centre he elected to take a shot himself, and drove low past the hapless Kawaguchi for his first international goal.
It looked like becoming a rout as the Brazilians took it in turns to fire in shots at the Japanese goal. Robinho’s 25-yard drive from left of centre forced another save from Japan’s custodian. From the resulting corner it was Juninho’s turn, as he shot from a similar position, bringing another save out of the ‘keeper. It was at this moment that Parreira realised the game was won, and on 70 minutes replaced to of his key players, Kaká and Ronaldinho, with Zé Roberto and Ricardinho.
Seemingly content to keep possession for a while, Brazil created little in the next few minutes. Then with ten minutes to go, Juan burst forward from defence. The Leverkusen stopper’s pass found Ronaldo, who turned his marker and drilled the ball emphatically past Kawaguchi to draw level with Gerd Muller’s all-time World Cup goalscoring record. ‘Il Phenomeno’ now has 14 goals in 17 finals matches, and has surely answered his critics in the best way possible.
With the match now sealed, Parreira rewarded São Paulo’s goalkeeper Rogério Ceni for his work behind the scenes by bringing him on to replace Dida. Ronaldo was now captain and in search of his first World Cup hattrick. It didn’t happen for him in the end, as the match petered out into a comfortable Brazilian victory.
It seems the canarinha are getting better with each successive match, and tonight’s 4-1 win showed what they are capable of. Parreira also has an array of selection problems, with all five ‘replacement’ players showing they are more than capable of playing in the first-choice eleven. Expect more like the regular XI for the second round as the competition hots up, but this was a real improvement from all corners of the Brazil squad. From the defence through the hard-working defensive midfielders to the improving Ronaldinho and the impressive Robinho, this was much more like a champion performance. But the night belonged to Ronaldo.
Second Half
The players were greeted by constant drizzle as they returned to the pitch. However, one thing that had not changed was Brazil’s attacking intent. Five minutes into the second period, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho combined beautifully on the edge of the area, but the former side-footed his shot wide of the left-hand post.
They were not to be denied long though as just two minutes later, Robinho retrieved an overstruck cross on the left wing. As he moved inside he laid the ball off to Juninho, who unleashed a powerful drive. Although the shot was relatively straight, Kawaguchi managed to blot his copybook by diving underneath the shot and letting it through his hands. It was a massive disappointment for the former Portsmouth goalie who had performed so admirably in denying Brazil in the first half.
Brazil began to look increasingly confident as they dominated proceedings, moving forward in wave after wave of skilful attacks. A deep cross from Gilberto on the left found Ronaldo, but this time his header was comfortably saved by Kawaguchi. Barely an hour into the match the champions scored again, after a superb Ronaldinho through pass found Gilberto free on the left. The Berlin-based wingback strode into the area, but with Ronaldo unmarked in the centre he elected to take a shot himself, and drove low past the hapless Kawaguchi for his first international goal.
It looked like becoming a rout as the Brazilians took it in turns to fire in shots at the Japanese goal. Robinho’s 25-yard drive from left of centre forced another save from Japan’s custodian. From the resulting corner it was Juninho’s turn, as he shot from a similar position, bringing another save out of the ‘keeper. It was at this moment that Parreira realised the game was won, and on 70 minutes replaced to of his key players, Kaká and Ronaldinho, with Zé Roberto and Ricardinho.
Seemingly content to keep possession for a while, Brazil created little in the next few minutes. Then with ten minutes to go, Juan burst forward from defence. The Leverkusen stopper’s pass found Ronaldo, who turned his marker and drilled the ball emphatically past Kawaguchi to draw level with Gerd Muller’s all-time World Cup goalscoring record. ‘Il Phenomeno’ now has 14 goals in 17 finals matches, and has surely answered his critics in the best way possible.
With the match now sealed, Parreira rewarded São Paulo’s goalkeeper Rogério Ceni for his work behind the scenes by bringing him on to replace Dida. Ronaldo was now captain and in search of his first World Cup hattrick. It didn’t happen for him in the end, as the match petered out into a comfortable Brazilian victory.
It seems the canarinha are getting better with each successive match, and tonight’s 4-1 win showed what they are capable of. Parreira also has an array of selection problems, with all five ‘replacement’ players showing they are more than capable of playing in the first-choice eleven. Expect more like the regular XI for the second round as the competition hots up, but this was a real improvement from all corners of the Brazil squad. From the defence through the hard-working defensive midfielders to the improving Ronaldinho and the impressive Robinho, this was much more like a champion performance. But the night belonged to Ronaldo.
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