Taca
de Ouro or the national championship. Although efforts were made to
curtail the enormous inflation of the championship, it was still huge
and complicated. It started with 40 teams and finished with 41. The
traditional final table made every year shows the nightmarish nature
of the tournament – first of all, the final table makes no sense
and serves no purpose: it has nothing to do with next year
participation in the championship: who plays depends on states lots
and their fulfillment – on final positions in the states
championships. Usually the winner of the Second Level is promoted to
the next national championship, yet, it looks like an empty gesture –
comes next year and there is no trace of the 'promoted' club.
Meantime this very winner already played a bit in the national
championship, joining the tournament at its 3rd
phase. Elimination from the competition was equally tough: only 8
teams were directly out after the initial phase. Big clubs ruled –
no matter what, they were always in the game: just in case nobody was
out, there were 2 spots reserved for clubs qualified 'according to
CBF's historical ranking'. So, Vasco da Gama and Gremio played this
year thanks to that. One may argue what is fair or unfair to death...
not every state of the Brazilian federation had a spot. Sao Paulo and
Rio de Janeiro dominated the picture – Sao Paulo with 6 spots, Rio
with 5. There was always a good chance some big clubs to be out, but
their clout there was no way to exclude them... and there was an easy
argument: what kind of championship really is one with the likes of
Operario (Varzea Grande), but without Vasco da Gama? After all, even
if Vasco da Gama is really weak, at least its fans pay cash at the
gates. Operario? Take it out of home and nobody goes to watch.
Anyway, the byzantine championship started, went through the whole
stages and finished, and one look at the 'final table' only tells
that for all its complications and stages not that many games were
actually played – in a championship with 41 teams, the finalists,
who played the most, played just 24 games. Some ended with 8.
Well, let begin
with the early losers, finishing the season after the first phase,
which divided the 40 teams into 8 groups.
Brasilia
was technically the worst team this year – they lost all 8 games,
the only team to finish without even a point.
Catuense
(Alagoinhas) was only slightly better than Brasilia – they tied 2
of their 8 games. However, most likely they were not disappointed –
playing with the best, even for a little way, was more or less dream
fulfilled.
Nacional
(Manaus) was may be similar to Catuense, although city like Manaus
should have been more ambitious and may be even able to recruit
better team. However, Manaus is hardly a cradle of football.
The rest of the
early losers are no surprise either: Confianca, Ferroviario, Moto
Clube, Anapolina, Rio Branco, Auto Esporte, Tuna Luso. But there were
two other names, surprising names:
Bangu
was the one – may be not top-tier Brazilian club, but hardly one of
the worst. By reputation...
Bangu
down – one can allow that, but Cruzeiro? Not able to reach even the
second phase... 2 wins, 2 ties, 4 losses, positive goal-difference –
16-13 – and out. Last in Group F, which was hardly the toughest...
one clear argument against privileged treatment of big clubs: what is
the point to guarantee them participation in the national
championship, when they finish last in a group consisting of
second-raters at best (America Rio de Janeiro, Atletico Paranaense,
Brasil Pelotas, and Rio Branco)? Shame.
After the second
stage a mixed bag of clubs was out:
Treze
(Campina Grande),
Joinville
(Joinville). Standing from left: Léo, Jecenir, Claudemir, Ricardo,
Valter, Adilson.
Crouching: João Carlos, Nardela, Paulinho, João Renato, Silvinho.
Crouching: João Carlos, Nardela, Paulinho, João Renato, Silvinho.
ABC
(Natal),
CRB
(Maceio),
Santa
Cruz (Recife) – this club deserves a note: it is among the top 15
most popular clubs in Brazil and highly successful in the state of
Pernambuco, yet, never impressive on the national stage and hardly
one of the famous Brazilian clubs abroad. Curiously or not, early
exit of Santa Cruz is rather expected.
Brasil
(Pelotas) – a club, which needs a bit of attention, because of the
confusing name – they represent the city of Pelotas and there is
also a sport with that name. Thus, Brasil Pelotas could be easily
confused with the Brazilian national team of that similar to football
sport. The full name of the club is Gremio Esportivo Brasil,
normally insignificant club from Rio Grande do Sul, but particularly
irritating this year, for they took one of the 2 spots for the state,
normally 'reserved' for Gremio (Porto Alegre). Not only that, but
they also performed equally to Inter (Porto Alegre), another
irritating point for all advocates of big and famous clubs.
The last of the
clubs expected to reach this phase and no further – at best – was
Operario (Varzea Grande, Mato Grosso). The rest, however, were big
names down on their luck for whatever reasons – starting with
Atletico Mineiro. And going...
Bahia
(Salvador) was the worst among them.
Internacional
(Porto Alegre), barely better than their pariah-neighbours Brasil
(Pelotas),
Botafogo,
never mind Alemao,
Palmeiras,
with quaite impressive squad,
Sao Paulo.
In
the 3rd
phase the fresh winners of Taca CBF joined the top championship.
Uberlandia,
in fact, played well – won 2 games, tied 2, lost 2, 4-3
goal-difference. Unfortunately, 6 points were not enough – Coritiba
earned 7 and Uberlandia finished 3rd.
Five points ahead of Fortaleza, but out.
The rest of the
eliminated at this phase teams: Operario (Campo Grande, Mato Grosso
do Sul), Goias, America (Rio de Janeiro), Santo Andre (Santo Andre,
Sao Paulo), Atletico Paranaense,
Fortaleza,
and
Santos.
Standing from left: Rodolfo
Rodrigues, Gilberto Sorriso, Márcio, Toninho Carlos, Chiquinho,
Toninho Oliveira, Dema.
First
row: Gersinho, Lino, Paulo Isidoro, Serginho Chulapa, Humberto, Zé
Sérgio. Perhaps Santos was unlucky, for the team was quit good and
they were second scorers in this championship with 39 goals –
Gremio also scored 39, but they played more games.
After
the 3rd
phase it was simple – quarterfinals, cup format. The last of the
'rabble' was eliminated here:
Nautico
(Recife) lost both legs to Gremio – 2-3 and 1-3. It was good
campaign, though. Standing from left: Lourival,Solito, Douglas,
Luciano, Isidoro, Carlinhos.
Front
row: Dario, Paulinho, Brás, Evaristo, Jair.
Portuguesa
was practically destroyed by Vasco da Gama – 2-5 and 3-4.
That
was nothing compared to the fate of Coritiba, which lost to
Fluminense 2-2 and 0-5.
And
here was the end of Flamengo too – not long ago at the top of the
world and having the Argentine star keeper Ubaldo Fillol between the
posts, but facing Corinthians was no joke. It started well, Elder and
Bebeto scoring to make 2-0 victory in Rio, but the next leg was in
ultra-hostile Sao Paulo and the result was 1-4. Out.
The
semi-finals opposed only big clubs – Gremio vs Vasco da Gama, the 2
teams allowed to play in the championship on 'historical record', and
Corinthians vs Fluminense. Gremio was the current world champion,
Corinthians were arguably the most exciting Brazilian team at the
time...
Gremio
won 1-0 at home, but lost the second leg 0-3.
Corinthians
somehow was unable to fulfill its potential – a disastrous home
opening canceled their ambitions – they lost 0-2 and the second leg
was more or less a formality, ending 0-0.
A
Rio de Janeiro final for the first time – and it was only the
second occasion with finalists from the same city - opposing mighty
old enemies: Vasco da Gama vs Fluminense. A lot as stake: Vasco da
Gama won the Brazilian championship only once, 10 years ago, and a
second title was much desired. Fluminense did not won at all so far.
High ambitions, but reality on the pitch was another matter – for
all the hype, Brazilian football was of poor quality for a long time
– defensive, without flair, few goals were scored. This may have
been disappointing, but victory obliterated all negative aspects, at
least for the winners. Vasco hosted the opening leg on May 24, but
eventually Romerito scored the only goal of the game and Fluminense
had precarious 1-0 lead before the second leg. On May 28 the rivals
met again, scored no goals, and Fluminense won the title.
It
all depends on the standpoint – for somebody neutral, reaching the
final was a great achievement for a team permitted to participate in
the championship only on historical grounds; for the fans – it was
great misery: no title. Second-best just does not do it. Vasco da
Gama somehow did not have great team, Roberto Dinamite was the only
big star and although he scored constantly, when it mattered most he
did not.
Looking
at the new champions, they did not have starry squad either, so it
was perhaps a case of motivation and determination, spurred by the
great chance and the fact of playing against old local rival than
actual skill, but Fluminense had strong campaign, no doubt about it.
At the end, this squad put the name of the great club on the list of
Brazilian champions at last. Given the fantastic history of Brazilian
football, this squad was not becoming a legend, but first national
title was well appreciated, espacially when combined with 3rd
consecutive Rio de Janeiro title. Strong year by any measure.
And
just because it was a first title, one more look at the new champions
– this time dressed in their reserve kit.
