CORDOBA, Argentina: Brazil’s coach Carlos Alberto Silva said today Brazilian soccer was 20 years behind the times and suggested those responsible for the national team should hire him full time.
“Brazil’s football is 20 years behind”, Silva told reporters following his team’s shock elimination from the South American Cup.
He said this deficit could not be made up from one day to the next. “We have to get organized, continued working and take all the time necessary to reach the world cup in Italy in good form,” he said.
He said the Brazilian Football Federation (CEB) should come to an understanding with his club, Cruzeiro, for him to take on the national team full time.
“The Brazilian player is going through a period of transformation and it’s going to take time to change his mentality, but with time this can be done”, Silva said.
Brazil fell apart in the second half of their group B match against Chile and was beaten 40. They began the match as favorites, needing only a draw to qualify.
Silva said Brazilians were anxious for victories after nearly 20 years without winning a major trophy. But he said what he needed was not results but work. “It would be a nice challenge to continue. It’s worth trying”.
Star striker Careca said Brazil had deepened too long on their fence attacking play. “Beautiful football just for the sake of it does not bring results”, he said.
Journalists blamed bad organization by the CFB.
Argentina’s world cup winning coach Carlos Bilardo said in Buenos Aires that Brazil needed more tactical discipline, “In Brazil those at the head of all the top teams are their physical trainers”, he said.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 10, 1987
