So, we’ve had this debate before. Still, the result, Netherlands 2-1 over Brazil, will fuel the fire of the torch wielding “joga bonito acolytes,” screaming about the exclusion of Ronaldinho and Pato and hundreds of other Brazilians that can pull off an elastico with ease. After all, Dunga’s reliance on results and the discourse of efficiency to justify his team selection collapses into one currency by which to measure success – wins. Not goals. Not style. Wins. And today, Brazil lost.

However, this was not a case of the swashbuckling jogabonito Dutch vs. the boring Brazilians. The Holland on display fielded three central midfielders, Schneijder, Von Bommel, and De Jongo, two of which are more janitorial than artistic. Up front, Van Persie found himself isolated as Kuyt’s chronic lack of pace and Robben’s left leaning proclivities starved him of quality service. Did Gio overlap Robben even one time during the course of the game? Cruyff’s total football is dead. Long live the Cruyff. Continue reading “Brazil vs. Holland – Beauty, Bottom Line, Redux” »