On Sunday, June 20, Brazil played Ivory Coast.
It was the second match of the 2010 World Cup or both sides in a very tight Group G. It was the last game of the weekend wrap but I wanted to blog about it in a separate entry.
Brazil destroyed Ivory Coast.
It wasn't even close.
Luis Fabiano scored a brace and Elano added a third. Didier Drogba got a late consolation when once again, Brazil's defence fell asleep at the back with the game seemingly in the bag.
And then Kaka, yes Kaka, got a red card for nothing.
Brazil were like a finely tuned formula one race car, hitting all the gears while roaring in and out of corners. Sleek, smooth and intent on complete goal scoring destruction. They linked well while spraying passes all over the park. Their movement was balletic, choreographed to perfection by Kaka in the attacking third of the pitch.
Throughout Dunga's tenure Brazil have been functional without being fantastic, solid without being spectacular.
But this was Brazil of old; displaying the kind of footballing synthesis between athleticism and grace that Tele Santana's teams of the mid eighties would have been proud of.
Forget talk about Luis Fabiano's handballs. Balls bounced off the upper arm are not infractions and should be allowed on, especially when part of the artistic ensemble of ball control that he put on before outwitting the Ivorian defence to slot home his second.
If his first goal has been a near post bullet that rocketed into the roof of the net, the second was more sublime and subtle.
Elano's third was the culmination of a sweet set of passes.
The only regret they will take way from this game was the late dismissal of Kaka for a bit of pathetic gamesmanship by Kader Keita. Kaka was walking in the box when Keita ran into him. Perhaps out of instinct more than anything Kaka raised an elbow about half the way up and flicked off the approaching Keita. Keita went down like he was shot, Kaka was sent off.
Dunga was absolutely incensed at the call. His blood pressure had been rising all night as he saw the Ivorians resort to bad fouls, cynical tackles and crude hacks to keep his magicians at bay. Already Elano had to be substituted when he was felled by Ismael Tiote. With Kaka's dismissal, Brazil are now without their midfield maestro for their next 2 games.
Luckily, one game should not matter as Brazil have already sealed qualification from the group. Still one wonders how much Kaka's absence at their round of 16 game will haunt them.
For Ivory Coast, it was a lesson in how far they have fallen. At the 2006 World Cup they were an irrepressible attacking force, playing with verve, passion and pace. They were fresh, eager and clean.
Now they are a team of nine journeyman flashmen plus the anchor of Yaya Toure and the battering ram of Didier Drogba. Jaded, stale and cynical.
Running fast and passing the ball is nothing if there is no end product. But for Gervinho's late introduction and the almost bizarre third goal off a long pass, the African's created nothing.
South American teams have impressed at this tournament. African teams, bar Ghana, have generally been rubbish.
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