The Only Tournament Brazil Hasn’t Won

Brazil haven’t won everything you know. Despite five World Cups, eight Copa Americas and even two Confederations Cup victories, the Seleção is still waiting on a first Olympic gold medal. European nations may not take the Olympics seriously as a football tournament, but South Americans certainly do. Which makes the fact that they lack a gold medal all the more dire. Brazilian boss Dunga aims to change all that at Beijing 2008 by coaching the Olympic team himself and finally completing Brazil’s set. He’ll be allowed to take just three players over the age of 23, and it’s possible he could take the likes of Kaka, Ronaldinho or Robinho. But even if he doesn’t there’s still plenty of under-23 talent to choose from (Alexandre Pato maybe?) and so plenty of pressure to succeed. Unfortunately, Dunga’s preparations are already off to a bad start.

In the domestic Brazilian football season closer, Dunga’s Under-23 team took on the Brasileiro All Stars (basically an all star team from the Brazilian league) and lost a convincing 3-0. Dunga was quick to complain about lack of preparation time, but he’s going to face exactly that problem next summer when European clubs won’t be quick to relsease their Brazilian stars just so they can prepare for an Olympic tournament that Europe doesn’t take seriously, especially as they’re under no obligation from FIFA to do so.

Qualifying for the Olympic tournament is an odd process, mostly decided by youth team results. Not all the qualifiers are decided yet, but Brazil and Argentina were the fist to book their tickets as respective winners and runners-up of the South American Under-20 Championship in January this year.

Brazil has a troubled history with the Olympic tournament. They were losing finalists in 1984 and 1988, but that’s as close as they’ve come. And the three over-age players Dunga chooses may not be too keen on the idea of playing, if the example of Rivaldo is anything to go by. At the 1996 Olympics Rivaldo was already a legend in the making and played as one of the permitted over-age players. But after Brazil lost 4-3 to Nigeria in the semi-final Rivaldo was made the scapegoat and briefly lost his place in the senior team as a result.

So, yes, Brazil takes this tournament seriously. But still they haven’t won it. If Dunga can conjure up a gold medal in Beijing, he’ll be a hero again, especially after winning the Copa America last year. But if Brazil fail again, then Dunga’s good work last summer will be wiped out and Brazil’s Olympic torment will continue.

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