credit: reproduction / YouTube / Score Magazine
Anyone who followed international football in the late 1980s and early 1990s certainly knows who Franco Baresi is. He is “only” one of the greatest defenders and one of the greatest liberals of all time. The Italian is one of the pillars of Arrigo Saatchi’s historic Milan, being a two-time champion of the UEFA Champions League in 1988/89 and 1989/90 and present in the 1982 World Cup triumph (as a reserve) and a third-place debut. of the campaign in 1990 and the vice-championship in 1994. The same anniversary was in Brazil in September to participate in the recording of the documentary series Facing Fate and spoke about his experience as a player, his success in Milan and his historic performance against Brazil. In 1994, twenty days after undergoing arthroscopy and various other cases. Many of them are associated with Brazilian football and their coexistence such as Aldair, Romario, Zico, Bebeto and other greats who have played in Italian football …
On this occasion Franco Baresi gave an interview to the journalist Luiz Felipe Castro, assistant editor of Revista Placar, and talked about his career, the recording of the documentary and also about the Brazilian team. In the nine minutes and twenty seconds of the video above, the Italian ace was asked about the team led by Telu Santana’s historic 1982 defeat against Italy in what came to be known as the “Tragedy of Saria”. Barsi gives an interesting answer and even draws a comparison with the team that won the 1994 World Cup by defeating Squadra Azzura in a penalty shootout.
In 1982, you also had the privilege of watching Italy win over Brazil from the bank.
Yes, watching the 1982 match from the bench was an incredible experience. I was very young and Italy x Brazil was a nice surprise. Brazil was the favourite, but Italy played a great game. And maybe Brazil has underestimated us a bit.
Which Brazil was the best? 1982 or 1994?
They were different. The 1982 Brazil probably had more quality, but the 1994 team was very solid, strong…
more italian?
Yes, more European than 1982.
First of all, this writer is well aware that any comparison between teams with differences over ten years must take into account the context of each season, players, and lots of other things. On the other hand, Barsi’s statement about the teams of 1982 and 1994 says a lot about the development of Brazilian football and some change in the attitude of the old and uncivilized Breton game in these parts in the period between a World Cup. In tells. one more. The idea here is not to select the best team led by Telu Santana and Carlos Alberto Pereira, but to refer to this opinion of Franco Baresi about two teams that play very differently, but they are similar. was fiercely competitive. Each in his own way. If the 1994 Brazilian team was more “European”, as the Italian ace himself said, then the 1982 team was more “Latin”, so to speak. More fluid and looser on the field. Despite some tactical problems, it was a spectacle.
The 1982 Brazilian team was of a more fluid and grand quality on the ball and in the triangles. The Squadra Azzurra still uses the “Geoco all’Italiana” with individual marking and long movements. Photo: Playback / YouTube / FIFA TV
The so-called “Gioco All’Italiana” was so called because almost all Italian teams played in the same way at the time. Including the national team. A libero (Simple Gaetano Cyria), a defensive right-back (Claudio Gentile) called “Marcatore Terzino” and a highly offensive left-back (Antonio Cabrini) called “Fluidifying Terzino”. The starting lineup varies from 4-4-2, 3-5-2 or even 1-4-4-1 depending on the moves and the scenario that finds itself in front of a team led by Enzo Beirzot. Presents. At that time, at the age of 22, Franco Baresi was a reserve in the Italian national team and closely watched the enthusiasm of the Brazilians with the team of Zico, Socrates, Falco, Junior and many other legends of our football. Everyone who sees that Brazilian team on the field does not skimp on praising. Until “The Tragedy of Saria”.
Those who are older remember “Ze da Galera”, a character from Soares and the famous slogan “Bota ponta, Telu!”, a humorous critique of the formation chosen by Telu Santana. Like Zagallo did in 1970, the coach had too many aces and decided to put them all on the same team, betting on 4-2-2-2 with a lot of touch and fluidity, but which had weaknesses. It went very well. Discovered by Italy. Although the tie classified the Brazilian team into the semi-finals, Telu Santana’s team continued to attack and open the gap. Mainly on the right side of the defense, where Leandro had nobody’s company to pursue Cabrini and Graziani. Otherwise, defensive failures and overconfidence will prove fatal. Just like Franco Barsi said in an interview to Placar magazine.
Franco Baresi saw Italy take advantage of the tactical discipline, the good performance of the team and the defensive failures of Telu Santana’s team to beat a Brazilian team of great quality at the touch of the ball.
Journalists and fans tried to understand what happened to the Brazilian team in 1982. In fact, victories against New Zealand, Scotland and Argentina gave the impression that there would be a four-time World Championship. The feat that would come only twelve years later with the team of Romario, Bebeto, Dunga, Branco, Tafferal and company. Unlike Telu Santana, Carlos Alberto Pereira was heavily criticized for his Brazilian team’s more “European” style and a squad of two defensive midfielders in front of the last line of defence. The victory was visible and the team was making adjustments until reaching the final against Italy which had left the “Gioco All’Italiana” and played in the same 4–4–2 of Arrigo Saatchi’s historic Milan. Barisi is back in the team after twenty days recovering from knee arthroscopy. And as he said, it was one of the greatest individual performances by a defender in the entire history of the World Cup. Even more knowing that the No. 6 shirt had none other than Romario to score.
Italy played in the 4–4–2 used by Arrigo Saatchi, closing the gap well and Barici revived after twenty days after recovering from a knee injury. The Brazilian team was accused of being “European”. Photo: Playback / YouTube / FIFA TV
When Franco Baresi says that the Brazilian team was more “European”, he does not criticize Pereira’s team. This is a compliment due to the organization of the defensive tenacity of the Canarian team. Only three goals were scored in the entire United States World Cup, a good game with Jorginho and Branco (who sent Leonardo out in the round of 16) taking the team’s place, and Dunga’s excellent visual play (probably One of the most underrated defensive midfielders of all time) and Bebeto and Romario come to the fore, perhaps one of the greatest attacking pairings this columnist has ever seen. Italy had the range of Roberto Baggio (who also played the injured decision), the strength of Donadoni and Albertini in midfield and the backbone of an extremely victorious and consistent match.
In practice, Pereira was a more alert and practical instructor than Telo Santana. But given what the Brazilian team presented in 1994, the criticism about their tactical choices is laughable. Even though the final was played in an absurd heat and was decided only in a penalty shootout. The positions of Mauro Silva and Dunga gave more freedom to the full-backs, as well as actions by Zinho and Mazinho on the sides that allowed Bebeto and Romario to decide at the front. As he did many times. Mainly shirt 11. And looking at all that, why did Franco Baresi say that the 1994 team was stronger than the 1982 one. It’s not about individual talent, but a more consistent team game that allowed talents to emerge more easily.
Carlos Alberto Pereira was defending the last line of defense with Dunga and Mauro Silva at 4-4-2/4-2-2-2 and strong support from full-back. Defensive tenacity was one of the great features of that Brazilian team.
As stated earlier, it is very difficult to compare with teams of different times. Context should be taken into account in all possible analyses. On the other hand, it is a pleasant journey into the past to hear the impressions and reports of someone present in two of the most exciting matches in the history of the World Cup where we faced football with a little more innocence. Franco Baresi brings in his testimony the vision of someone who over a decade saw the development of Brazilian football, with our players moving to Europe, the improvement of physical preparation and all the contributions that it brought to older and older people exchanged experiences. Rude Breton game practiced here in these parts. This is no ordinary comparison. Even because the play style adopted in the United States was completely different from the one used in 1982. The biggest proof of this? by winning the club world cup Sao Paulo Above the Milan of Franco Barsi in 1993. the coach? Telu Santana.
Football can evolve and change a lot in twelve years. The Brazilian team learned from 1982’s lessons and came out victorious in 1994 by playing a football that might not suit everyone, but was absurdly solid and consistent. More “European”, as said by Franco Barsi himself in an interview with Placar magazine. A compliment in the opinion of this author, but it may not please the most proud and indifferent. These, before throwing stones, must understand that football never catered to individual tastes and always rewarded the one who applied the most on the field. Like the 1994 team.
Search Source:
Tactically – The History of the Cup Explained by Coaches’ Heads and Clipboard (Paulo Vinicius Coelho / Editora Saraiva)
Brazilian Football School (Paulo Vinicius Coelho / Editora Objective)
Saria 82 – What was missing in the art of football? (Gustavo Roman and Renato Zanata / Publishing Machinery)
It’s Tetra! – The achievement that helped transform Brazil (Andre Rocha and Michele Costa / Editora Via Escrita)
Inverted Pyramid – A History of Strategy in Football (Jonathan Wilson / Editora Grande Field)
Check out other analysis from the Tactical Papo column:
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