Sao Paulo Leading the Way

¹²³ · Nov 25, 2008

Three years ago, after they were beaten by Sao Paulo in the final of the World Club Championship, Liverpool's fan sites were visited by plenty of gloating Brazilians.

To the puzzlement of the normal users, one phrase kept popping up again and again - 'You don't have to be a giant to play football.'

It was a translation of what legendary match commentator Galvao Bueno had said on Brazil's TV Globo. The starting point for his phrase was little midfielder Mineiro - a recent Chelsea signing - who slipped behind the Liverpool defence to score the only goal of the game. But it also went further.

Tostao, a legend of the 1970s World Cup-winning team and these days Brazil's best football writer, once told me that football "has an enormous value for the Brazilian people. They like it in itself, and also, in competition, it turns into something of the nation, something heroic. The people feel avenged - you might be the First World at other things, but we're the best at this."

Galvao Bueno is a genius at articulating this type of nationalist sentiment - as shown by the fact that his phrase was picked up by so many Sao Paulo fans. "You don't have to be a giant to play football" - he said it over and again during the match - was a taunt aimed at Liverpool.

You might have the money and all the glamour of winning Europe's Champions League, he was saying, but our teams can still bring you down with a bump.

In purely physical terms, the phrase might refer to Mineiro. But, then and now, it hardly makes any sense when used about the Sao Paulo team as a whole.

Just as in 2005, the 2008 team is characterised by big, strong players - three giant centre-backs and plenty of aerial power in both penalty areas. It is part of a formula that is proving consistently successful.

On Sunday, Sao Paulo moved very close to winning their third consecutive Brazilian title. They won 2-1 away to Vasco da Gama. It was a huge result; Vasco, in relegation trouble, had filled their tight stadium, a real cauldron in such conditions.
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Great BBC article, click here to read the full text.

¹²³ · Dec 1, 2008

São Paulo got a draw against Fluminense and the title will be decided next sunday in the last game of the championship. Gremio is still alive.

kobimel · Dec 1, 2008

Sorry about the ignorance, I don't really follow Brazilian football...but where are Santos this year?

¹²³ · Dec 2, 2008

kobimel said: ↑

Sorry about the ignorance, I don't really follow Brazilian football...but where are Santos this year?
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Here is the current standings

Santos is in the 14th position. The Brazilian championship is really competitve and specially this year the teams are pretty even.

kobimel · Dec 2, 2008

Wow, that low?

Looks like a tight competition up top. I hope FSN or someone will broadcast the final game; I'll be looking for it.

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