By Anna Italia
Covering the 2010 World Cup Qualifying from an Italian Perspective


Can somebody tell me whatever happened to the so-called GIANTS OF SOCCER? 

What a disappointment!  Brazil 0 - 0 Argentina and not even displaying quality football as we are used to see from these great South American giants.   Just imagine that at the end of the match, Brazilian fans booed Dunga for this embarassing goalless draw at the Stadio Mineirao in Belo Horizonte with 57,000 fans waiting to see the GREAT CLASH OF THE COLOSSALS! 

Interesting is that for Brazil there were 4 players from the Serie A. Three from FC Inter, 1 from AS Roma while  3 Inter players for Argentina, guys, hello, it was practically a match Inter versus Inter.  Guess what, even, Inter coach Jose Mourinho went to Brazil to watch his players!  Unbelievable so much expectation and we got only a boring match where Inter forward "once the Emperor," was even booked!

        Watch the video for the full highlight of the 2010 World Cup Qualifying match Brazil 0 - 0 Argentina.

• FC Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar, played 90 minutes
• FC Inter defender Maicon,  played 90 minutes
• FC Inter forward Adriano, played 70 minutes
• Roma defender Juan, played 90 minutes

For Argentina there were 3 players from the Italian Serie A

• FC Inter defender Javier Zanetti ,  played 90 minutes
• FC Inter defender Nicolas Burdisso,  played 90 minutes
• FC Inter forward Julio Cruz, played 67 minutes   

I guess for Inter fans this draw was ok because they were cheering more for their players than for their countries. That's fair enough.  Personally, I was for a draw too because I wanted to support our Serie A players, but a draw with goals and a good match!  Neither Brazilians nor Argentinians fans are happy with this draw.

A tough test for Brazil and Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar, maybe the best from INTER in this match. Well, at least the guy did not allow his teammate Argentinian forward Julio Cesar to blast his net!  

              

     Here is Brazil and Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar giving a helping man to Argentinian fellow Lionel Messi after making a save.  Bravo Julio Cesar! That's sportsmanship.  Can you believe that Messi missed 2 goal opportunities in stoppage time!!!

Julio has disappointed me in the last 2 matches with Argentina. I expected more from him, goals, goals, and goals.  Sure, Cruz made a good shot when hitting the crossbar before being substituted in the 67th minute by Sergio Aguero.  Still, Cruz either is tired or losing sharpness not able to finalize a goal in official matches. Well, let's not be so hard with Cruz because Barcelona forward Lionel Messi was not brilliant either.

                      

In the 50th minute, Brazil and Roma defender Juan commits a foul on Argentinian and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi.  What a splash!  A free kick for Argentina.

In the 54th minute, Referee Oscar Ruiz books Brazil and Inter forward Adriano for a foul committed on Argentinian defender Gabriel Heinze. So, free kick for Argentina

In the 56th minute, a beautiful assist from Juan Roman Riquelme to Julio Cruz who was alone in the area but Cruz shoots over the bar!!!

Ok, let's be fair to our guys.  Neither Brazil and Real Madrid forward Robinho could score!

Bottom line guys, this draw did not help any. Yet, in Group 2 Argentina keeps the second position in the table with 11 points, first place is for Paraguay with 13 points while Brazil better starts praying for a miracle because they are in fourth place with 8 points.  Danger for Brazil is that if Chile beats Venezuela tonight, Brazil can go down to the 5th position. OUCH!

Ironically, the so-called best footballer Barcelona forward RONALDHINO was also in the Stadium watching the match from the tribune!!!! Come on... where is Brazil pride?

                    

Making it worse, Argentina despite not scoring played even better than Brazil who were at home!  This, my friends, is something that Brazilian fans don't forgive to Dunga and want him out! Ah, let's not forget that Brazil was totally humiliated on Sunday when Paraguay beat them 2 goals to none! Ouch, how must it hurt! Argentina at least  got a draw with Ecuador last time.

I keep asking myself "Are these the so- called kINGS OF SOCCER, how about looking at Netherlands?"

Simply put, matches are won on the field not by the color of the jersey or their historical background.  Don't you think?  Maybe "too many marketing players."  Why not giving a chance to less "marketable players" but more efficient and with the drive to shine for their countries?

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Referee: Oscar Ruiz (Colombia).





Related Stories:

-  2010 World Cup Qualifying CONMEBOL Argentina 1 - 1 Ecuador "3 Players from the Serie A with Argentina all from FC Inter: Burdisso, Zanetti, and Cruz" , June 15, 2008

-  2010 World Cup Qualifying CONMEBOL Result PARAGUAY 2 - 0 BRASIL Goals by Santa Cruz and Cabanas "6 Players from the Serie A in this Match",  June 15, 2008

Do you think Brazil and Argentina are still the giants to beat in the 2010 World Cup, yes, no, and why?