Well, well...here I am, with my face ready to be slapped.
Allow me now to respond to some of the previous assertions in the most straight forward possible.
ARROGANCE
I'm sorry if my confident way was confused with arrogance. Yes, I bragged about Brazil. I said that it was going to be in the final match, even in another post. But let me see if I got this straight: it's football, right? Not tennis, where you can barely whisper and you'll be called unpolite, or golf. It's meant to be vibrating, emotional. It's not a chess game too, when you have to wait for your opponent's mistake in order to make your move and then, only then say anything or celebrate. This is football. It's party, it's a great encounter of belifes, of histories. If I'm not allowed to express it in my own way...someone has to move. If I'm supposed to see it only and strictly in an analytic, tied-collar way...damn, maybe we're watching different sports here. Once again, however, if I offended anyone, my apologies.
Many people probably thought that was all a huge demonstration of arrogance since I also posted something against I. Coast's behavior, in that "famous" and already parodied thread. After all, Brazil defeated Côte, what else should I want? And I even dared to say something against their behavior? What is that? Once again, this is my football fan emotional behavior. I can't stand demonstrations of arrogance, specially physical ones. And it's my opinion. It's supposed to be respected and agreed or disagreed with the same respect.
I established in my mind a clear difference between what it is and what is not arrogance in football: when you believe your team, and you 'predict' scorings, titels...that's confidence. When you relate your confidence with patriotism or racial pride, that's arrogance. It's my view.
I'd also like to claim for those who judge me or any other easily hateable brazilian fan to take a good look at themselves and finally realize if their target isn't aiming those brazilians because well, they're also football fans and of course, they want their teams, not Brazil, to win. So, some of those who judged me and my style under the terms of anti-arrogance, maybe should check if they're not also acting in the same passionate way, but expressed differently. The true reason why brazilian fans are hateable has solely to do with the fact that Brazil is a very strong side - which wasn't our case in this Cup's.
DUNGA
I supported him, because that man is bold. He dared Globo TV, the most powerful TV broadcaster of Brazil - and the 5th biggest in the world, closing the training ground and giving them and any other TV of the world the same space and time to talk to Brazilian players. He was picked up by them, and dirtly and subtly provoked and humiliated. Of course that yesterday as the game went to its end and Brazil's dream to the drain, the critics poured their poison out strong and generously. But they're right about their statements.
Being bold against the media wouldn't win a Cup. Players win a Cup. Goals win a cup. And Dunga, for lack of creativity or good support - as it was clear in the I. Coast match, when he was advised to not sub Kaká - and maybe a little bit of courage to go against his own rules, which is absolutely necessary to win a challenge when you're in charge of other people; wasn't capable of sealing his performance as a coach with the golden seal. He won everything he could across these 3,5 years...but the big meat is bound to other mouths...and I doubt they're south americans.
With his unnecessarily stubborn atittude he commited predictable mistakes: Felipe Melo was a train down the hill, since Fiorentina, actually since Gremio. EVERYONE knew that. And in the most dramatic and important match for Brazil in the Cup, it all came down to that moment of animal, ashameful fury that many people had already seen in their minds.
He also exposed Kaká. Kaká barely played for Real in the last season, and specially in the last months. It was obvious he wasn't ready for a Cup. Of course he wouldn't leave him out, but at least, having someone to back him up, such as Ronaldinho, wouldn't harm anyone. In the contrary, if it wasn't motivative, perhaps would give Kaká comfort and peace to work his football without the pressure of being The 10. Ronaldinho maybe didn't finish his season that well in Milan, but he finished better than Kaká. Instead of Dinho, Dunga took Kleberson. What were Kleberson achievements this year? Recover from his injury and disturb Corinthians in Libertadores? 6 months and a chance to a WC for that?
Everyone will crush Maradona now, but he was crazy enough to take 6 forwards instead of 6 midfielders. That was a craziness bound to Brazil, because Brazil needed it. We didn't have forwards finishing their seasons with excellent performances (Argentina had Tevez in great, great shape for Man City, as well as Milito - my god, and that's a great shape! - and also Higuain and Di Maria) so they didn't really need so many attacking players, while yes, perhaps a Cambiasso and a Zanetti wouldn't be too bad. Brazil in the other hand was in eager need of creative, decisive players, and Dunga wasn't "Maradona" enough to realize that.
There's nothing to be fixed now, it's done. But if I was Dunga, I'd have a clear talk with Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos. I'd ask 'em how bad did they want to go this last Cup of their career. I'd give them a goal and time to acomplish it. Ronaldo, obviously would have to go down several and several kilos. And I'm pretty sure that since the very own Brazil's coach talked to him, he'd give his best to get it. And he would. It's quite utopic but when I think about it, I really believe it. And Roberto, well, he didn't need anything to come back in great shape like he is now.
So, if I could turn back in time and advise Dunga, here's my 23 (some of them, like I said, utopic) to South Africa:
GK
Julio Cesar (Inter) - Gomes (Tottenham) - Vitor (Grêmio)
DF
Maicon (Inter) - Dani (Barça)
Roberto Carlos (Corinthians) - Bastos (Lyon)
Lucio (Inter) - Juan (Roma) - Luisao (Benfica) - Thiago (Milan)
MF
Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos) - Cristian (Fener) - Ramires (Benfica) - Hernanes (São Paulo FC)
Kaká (Real) - Elano (Galatasaray) - Ronaldinho (Milan) - Diego (Juventus)
FW
Robinho (Santos) - Fabiano (Sevilla) - Nilmar (Villareal) - Ronaldo (Corinthians)