Wonder of FIFA : Brazil down to 19 !!!

Vijay Anand

FIFA ranking was released recently and there is no prize for guessing who is at the top and at second place. The real shock came from the Brazil’s position. Currently they are at their lowest ever FIFA ranking, 19. Argentina (3), Colombia (6), Ecuador (10), Uruguay (17) from their CONMEBOL Zone are ahead of them. Even Mexico is sitting pretty at 14. This has never happened before, the huge gap between them and their neighbors (rivals)! With Danes fast catching them, there is every bit of chance that they could be pushed further low. 

Although, FIFA ranking has largely been criticized for controversial point system, but the problem with which the 5 time champion of FIFA are going through demands tough answers and step by step scrutiny is necessary.

Their Goalkeeper Diago Cavalieri of Fluminense and Julio Cesar of QPR in their present form are no way near Taffarel- Dida. Defense raises some hope with Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Dante, Marcelo, Felipe Luiz all are in their good form and always a first choice to secure the net in their respective different European nations champion clubs.

Ronaldinho anchores the midfield, playing with Athletico Mineiro and is currently running in 33. His looping free kick days, above David Seamen are long gone by; in fact he has missed a penalty against the same opposition at Wembley in a friendly. Kaka (has also touched 30) and Ramires are in fact not regulars in their respective clubs. Harnanes (Lazio) and Luiz Gustavo (Bayren Munich) do not encourage hope. Oscar and Fernando are mere 21 and the kids are yet to blossom.

Now comes the biggest worry, the stickers. It is a fact that at the end of match, it’s only the score line that matters and scoring goals is the only option to win match, in fact attack is the best defense. Brazilian forwards are way below their neighbours- Messi, Higuain, Vidal, Falcao, Cavani, Suarez to name a few. Fred, Neymar, Alexandre Pato, Osvaldo are playing in Brazilian league. Hulk is not fearsome and Diego Costa is second fiddle to Falcao in Athleico Madrid. Just look at the top 10 scorers in any top League of Europe and you will find no Brazilian flag attached to any name. Only Wanderson is looking for Golden boot in Russia, but he is not part of national squad.

Brazilian team is the darling of most soccer lovers around the world. World football requires samba dance to hit the football floor. They are considered a formidable force but that reputation is slowly but consistently declining. In 2006, their exit in QF by France raised shock waves but in 2010, their squad was no way near to be called a WC winning squad. The problem has carried along since then and nothing has changed. The good news recently has come that in the previous year; Brazil has exported around 1500 footballers around the world (600 in Europe), most by any other nation. But to pick and groom 23 among them is the real challenge. Luiz Felipe Scolari is an experienced and successful WC winning coach, but this time around, he has to swallow the bitter pill that current squad is no way near Japan-Korea 2002. Though he has a year to shape the squad, but he should thank that Brazil is the host of WC and getting automatic qualification.