Brazilian Soccer

The soccer madness that has never relaxed its hold on Brazil began at the turn of the century, caused the entire nation to plunge into depression in 1950, later lifted it to peaks of euphoria between 1958 and 1970, contributed to the malaise caused by the political, social, and economic difficulties afflicting the country in the 1980s, and in 1994 gave Brazil's collective self-esteem a badly needed boost.

Global and Brazilian Soccer 2006

Sport is almost a secular religion with its myths, rules and revered heroes, often competing with religion when games are played at the same time as church services, say two Brazilian researchers. "Football and politics, the construction of a national identity".

Their conclusion that soccer is like a secular religion is one of the findings in the book dealing with class, race and geography in sport.

As the soccer teams from around the world converged on Germany for the soccer World Cup – there is no question that the game forged and reinforced national identity in Brazil where the love of soccer is palpable.

Brazil is the only nation that has participated in every World Cup since the inception of the tournament in 1930.

Bulletin:

2006:

The Brazilian soccer confederation has hired former captain Dunga as coach of the national team.

Dunga, who was the captain of Brazil's 1994 World Cup-winning team, replaces Carlos Alberto Parreira, who quit after Brazil was eliminated by France in the quarterfinals of this year's World Cup in Germany.

"The choice of Dunga will fully satisfy the desires of Brazilian fans who want an enthusiastic coach on the national team," CBF president Ricardo Teixeira said on the confederation's Web site.

Dunga will make his debut when Brazil faces Norway in an exhibition Aug. 16 in Oslo.

History of soccer in Brazil and around the world.

After Brazil became a republic in 1889, the sport was the first time that poor, black and mixed-race people were integrated in social institutions like clubs, street teams and schools, and even into a national team.

Maybe soccer has not won elections or helped overcome social injustice, still the game has been used in Brazil by the State in the pursuit of its own interests and to consolidate its support.

President Vargas used the soccer sport as a tool to build national identity in Brazil, much as was done in Germany in the 1930’s promoting national pride in physical education. The World Cup tournament can be seen as an example of the largest number of people on the planet paying attention to an event of global reach. Nowhere was the enthusiasm greater than in Brazil.

The soccer World Cup is an event where national identities are upheld, presented and celebrated.

The oft-used expression "Soccer Country" defines Brazil as accurately as the descriptive "Carnival Country."

Indeed, the game "Brazilian Soccer" has managed to captivate Brazilians in every comer of the land, from Amazonia to the deep south, with an equal measure of devotion; in fact, it has sustained a degree of popularity that even Carnival has never been able to match.

The sport "brazilian soccer" has played a major role in unifying both nation and community. In Brazilian Soccer everyone follows the national team and takes great pride in its successes. Newcomers, whether from abroad or from another part of the country, are able to integrate themselves into the social life of a city or town by becoming fans of a local Brazilian soccer team or by participating in the game themselves.