BRAZIL ALWAYS WINS IN THE END

By John F. Molinaro

Former England striker Gary Lineker once famously quipped that soccer was a "simple" game: "Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and in the end - the Germans win."

Lineker made the remark just after England suffered a heartbreaking penalty shootout loss to Germany in the semifinals of the 1990 World Cup. He was making the point, in somewhat exaggerated fashion, that Germany can never be discounted.

Go ask Croatian or Australian players what they think about Linker's comments, though, and they'll tell you a different story.

They'll tell you how they played their hearts out for 90 minutes in this World Cup but still managed to lose to Brazil.

The Selecao have hardly produced the samba style of soccer it is famous for in Germany, labouring to victories over the Croats (save for a moment of true artistry from Kaka) and the Australians (who could have earned a draw if not for Harry Kewell blasting his shot high over the crossbar of an open net).

No one will ever mistake this Brazilian squad with the World Cup wining side of 1970 featuring Pele, Jairzinho, Tostao, Rivelino and Carlos Alberto - the team most critics consider the best in the history of the game.

Ronaldo is clearly not fit. He has looked badly out of shape, both physically and mentally, and is a shell of his former great self. In both games he has been harangued unmercifully by the Brazilian fans and has been embarrassingly replaced by the youngster Robinho in the second half.

Ronaldinho, the reigning two-time world player of the year, has been mediocre, unable to duplicate the dazzling performances he produced with startling regularity with FC Barcelona this past season. And the less said about the overrated Roberto Carlos and the aging Cafu the better.

Brazil has been ripped to shreds by a Brazilian press and fan base that demands sizzle with their steak (winning has never been enough in Brazil, you have to win with style). Brazil has even been overshadowed by its bitter South American rival, Argentina, who has everybody's tongue wagging after its 6-0 destruction of Serbia and Montenegro.

They're not only talking about Lionel Messi, an 18-year-old Argentine midfielder who scored and set up another goal in his World Cup debut against the Serbs, as the next Maradona, but they're also likening to him to Pele circa 1958, the Pele who at 17 guided Brazil to its first World Cup title in Stockholm.

But before we prematurely pen Brazil's 2006 World Cup eulogy, let's review the facts, shall we?

Brazil has played twice and recorded two wins, scored three times without conceding a single goal, earned six points, and a wrapped up a spot in the round of 16 with a game to spare.

They sure don't make a crisis like they used to. Not that the Brazilian players are worried.

"It's not about winning one game, it's about winning the competition. We're on the road to our sixth title - the team is on the right track," answered Roberto Carlos when questioned about Brazil's lacklustre form.

True, they have looked far from impressive in their opening games, but it says something about Brazil that it can still secure maximum points from two games - games that, truth be told, they didn't really deserve to win - and advance to the next round without being even close to peak form.

And there's the rub.

They've sleepwalked their way through two games and still managed to earn two victories. Brazil is unbeatable now, even when its not been at top form, so what do you think is going to happen when these guys wake up - and believe you me, they will wake up - and they start to play at their peak level?

An unprecedented sixth world title doesn't seem likely now, but the culture of winning and success is so engrained in their DNA that the Brazilians should never be discounted or written off.

The Germans? Gary Lineker was dead wrong. In the end, it's Brazil who always wins.

John F. Molinaro is the editor of CBC Sports Online's 2006 World Cup website. John covered the 2002 World Cup, 2003 Champions League final and Euro 2004 for Sports Online. He also won a CBC.ca Award of Excellence for his work on Sports Online's Euro 2004 website.