There will be no denying the intense passion that will be felt through the Argentina vs Brazil live match when the two football heavyweights clash once again in September. While the history between the two countries have transcended mere football rivalry and is one that is greatly political, there will be no love lost between the two sets of players when they troop out onto the field in Rosario. National pride is at stake and also the very important carrot dangling over the points available – which is early and surefire qualification for the World Cup to be held in South Africa next year. Argentina faces the greater pressure due to their lower points total and some uncharacteristic defeats that has numbered two in the last three. They have coincided with the country’s Football Association’s appointment of legend Diego Maradona as coach – a decision which has been derided by many experts as it has been hailed by the fans and players. Maradona has no great experience in such a capacity and his previous attempts at club management were not particularly something to be crowed about.
Brazil might be able to afford sitting back but there will be no such attitude from the team handled by another of the country’s football legends, Dunga, but one who has still to fully win over all his critics. Football is almost as great, if not greater, than religion in the country and fans and media alike both monitor and critique every single move by the national team and its handlers. Win, and there might be criticism about how they play as everyone expects Brazil to not only get results but to do so in an entertaining and flashy manner that befits their traditional tag of the Samba Boys in reference to past incarnations as the most entertaining football team in the world. Lose and one cannot imagine the outpouring of dismay and condemnation by the public for everything that they deemed to have gone wrong with the team – be it the players, the tactics or simply the coach not listening to the country’s millions of fans. And that is the knife’s edge that Dunga will continue to balance on despite leading his players to another trophy win two months ago in South Africa during the Confederations Cup. Nothing will ever be enough until he brings the World Cup home to Brazil next year.