Brazilian National Football team

        In continuation of our effort to expose the history of various Football teams, we now try to expose the history of one of the most successful and most feared team in the history of Football - Brazil.

START OF ASSOCIATION :

        Football was introduced in Brazil during 19th century. Proper football association was formed at the year 1916. This governing body has been the member of FIFA since 1923 and member of South American Football Confederation since 1916.

EARLY STAGES :

        The early Brazil football history is like a dark age. They won matches but they failed at Biggest stages. During that era, their famous match was against Hungary which was considered as one of the dark game in the History. In Football arena it is called as Battle of Berne, after which Brazil players went to Hungary change room and made the things even more worse after the final whistle.

PELE - THE GREAT MAN : 

        The Golden Era of Brazil stared with the entry of One of the all time greatest footballer - Pele. In 1958 World Cup, the Brazil coach Vicent Foela imposed several strict rules that should be followed by the players. In that World Cup, Brazil team was drawn in toughest group, but they manage to sneak through to quarterfinals with help of star players like Garrinicha, pele and zito.  Then Brazil defeated Wales 2-0 in which Pele scored one goal. In Semi-finals they France 5-2 and Sweden in final which gave them their first World Cup. 

SECOND HOME COMING :

        The 1962 World Cup was second World Cup for Brazil in which Garrinicha was player of the tournament. During this tournament Pele got injured and was unable to participate after the second group stage match. But with the services of Garrinicha, Brazil won the tournament for the second consecutive time.

1966-WORLD CUP HORROR :

        The 1966 World Cup was better known for physical play as it turned out to be the one of the most brutal tournaments of the game. Brazil team was not strong as usual because of the political issues which affected the selection process. At one stage, Brazil coach Vicent Foela has 46 players in which he has to chose 22-members squad for the World Cup. Every club members pressurized the coach to add particular players who represent their own clubs. So gradually team's quality lost which resulted in their worst World Cup campaign ever in the World Cup history as they crashed at group stages. After the match against Portugal, Pele told that he don't wish to play World Cup again in his carrier because of the brutal play by Portugal in final group stage match.

1970-BACK TO OWN :

        After 1966 World Cup, the Brazil was very furious to make amendments for their early exit. The team was dependent on Pele who was at his peak. As expected, next year Brazil team dominated the group stages and finally won the World Cup finals by defeating Italy 4-1.

LONG WAIT :

        After the 1970 World Cup win, came the toughest period in the Brazil Football History. They were not performing well and they could not win any trophies. In 1974, Brazil's new generation cannot defend their title, finishing 4th in that tournament. The 1978 World Cup was one of the controversial World Cups, as Brazil and Argentina was fighting for the top spot in group in which Brazil defeated Polish side 3-1 and had a goal difference of +5. Meanwhile Argentina has the goal difference of +2 in which they have to beat final group game against Peru and they do it by the margin of 6-0 which gained the them the superior goal difference than Brazil and hence latter had to settle for Third place. In 1982 World Cup, Brazil starting as favorites cleared the group stages with ease and their campaign came to end with shocking defeat from Italy. This was the best team of Brazil which could not lift the trophy. Then more pain came in 1986 and 1990 World Cup, as they lost to France in penalty shoot out. That game was considered as classic Football game as neither side deserved to lose. In latter year they lost to Argentina in Group stage.

RETURN OF GIANTS :

        Brazil spent 24 years without being in World Cup finals. The year 1994 was a milestone year for Brazil as they won the World Cup for the fourth time. In finals, Roberto Baggio scored the winner and the new era of dominance started. In 1998 World Cup, Brazil lived up to the reputation of Champions as they advanced to Finals where they lost to France 3-0. Then came the 2002 World Cup, the Brazil team was powered by Three R's (Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho). These Three players made the team to top group stages and they won the finals against Germany quite easily by the margin of 2-0 where both goals are scored by Ronaldo who won the Golden Boot Award. The Germany and Brazil was one of the most consistent teams as the met for the first time in Football History. Brazil eventually won the tournament for the record fifth time.

WAITING FOR SIXTH :

        In 2006 World Cup, the Brazil formation is regarded as  The Magic Square as they start the tournament with win but the Brazil's forwards could not break the defense of other teams as they were forced to change the combination in the final group match, which they won comfortably. Then for the quarter finals match against France, they restored the combination and they lost to France in quarterfinals. This is the tournament when Ronaldo became the highest scorer in World Cup Finals. In 2010 World Cup, they were drawn in Group of Death and they somehow managed to sail through the first round and they defeated Chile in next round by the margin 3-0. But they lost to Dutch in Quarters despite earning an early lead. They left at tournament's Business end. The 2014 World Cup, as the tournaments host has lots of expectation from the country. Responsibility rests on star players like Neymar and Oscar. Will they win the coveted trophy for the record sixth time or will they fumble? 
Only time will say. Lets hope for the best ...

FACTS ABOUT BRAZIL TEAM :

#1. Brazil is the most successful team in World Cup History as they won the WC Five times.

#2. Brazil is second in the chart of teams played most matches. This chart is lead by Germans.

#3.Brazil is the only team to qualify for all World Cup tournaments.

#4. Brazil is the fifth country to host Football World Cup tournament for second time.

#5. Brazil never lost a game when Pele and Garrincha played together.