FIVE CHANGES improved Brazil, who turned on the style to win 4- 1 after Tamada had scored a sensational goal to put Japan 1-0 up in 34 minutes.
Gilberto Silva came in for Emerson, Juninho of Lyon was in for Ze Roberto, the quicksilver Robinho replaced the cumbersome Adriano, and Cicinho was at right back instead of Cafu.
The most significant change was the absence of Roberto Carlos
In Brazil’s second game against Australia, Roberto Carlos was a disgrace. He is the biggest influence on the Brazilian team, and the worst influence. He was ridiculously undisciplined, charging around, whacking balls wildly, overhitting passes, taking rubbish freekicks.
He was truly appalling, a crazy caricature of his former self.He shamed the shirt and the heritage of all those who had worn it before him.A bad-tempered old galactico, he is redundant at Real Madrid, where he has been a bionic gladiator for seven or eight of his ten years.
With Brazil, as with Real, Roberto Carlos is part of the problem, not part of the solution.
Indeed, I began to wonder whether, of all the 736 players at this World Cup, Roberto Carlos might be the worst influence of any player in any team.
When I saw he was out, I had a bet on Brazil to win by two goals, which I would not have made if had he been playing.
With a proper left back, Gilberto, doing normal left back things in a left back position, and Robinho as a perpetual motion playmaker, linking moves left, right and centre, the line-up alone promised an improved team performance.
VERY QUICKLY, that promise was fulfilled, as Ronaldo banged a left-foot shot that was saved at the near post (7), Kaka hit a range-finder over the bar (10), Robinho thumped a shot that was parried (11), Robinho wrong-footed two defenders before having another shot parried (16), Ronaldo had a right-foot shot brilliiantly saved (20), and Juninho had a shot of phenomenal velocity tipped over the the bar by keeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi ( 22).
Robinho was everywhere, and Ronaldinho much more like himself .
When confidence flows, and everyone glides forward, and everyone wants the ball, the Brazilians stretch defences, terrify goalkeepers, and lift crowds off their seats.The combination of that level of skill, propelled by that level of athleticism, is unstoppable. But, having said that, the hugely energetic Japanese were competing vividly in a high-tempo contest.
Ronaldo was looking 60% better than in the last two games, but still only 50% of what he should be at the age of 29.
Then came a shock goal that cranked up the drama : Inamoto hit a first time ball wide to the left, naturalised Brazilian Alex played a crafty pass behind Lucio, and Tamada hit a left-foot thunderbolt between Dida and his near post, an amazing strike by any standard.
As commentators tend to say, WHATTA GOAL !!!!!
Imagine the cheer that went up in Buenos Aires when that shot went in.The roar must have been heard in Sao Paulo !
On BBC3, Croatia were drawing 1-1 with Australia, but I had not yet flicked over.
Then, on 46, in first half stoppage time, Ronaldinho picked out Cicinho with a crossfield pass and the right back headed neatly across the goalmouth to Ronaldo, who nodded the equaliser from five yards.
We saw the big grin of the happy-go-lucky kid again. Everyone doubted him, and still doubts him, because his touch is erratic and he cannot run.
On 51, Ronaldo played a one-two with Ronaldinho, whose pass gave him the chance to shoot, but he placed his shot just wide. We could not believe that Ronaldo could miss from there. If ever a situation was made for Ronaldo, if ever a situation looked like an inevitable goal, this did. But it wasn’t.
Still, Brazil had become an ooh-ah! team again.
As the passes flowed, and the shots flashed towards the goal, fans on five continents were going, “Ooh!” and “Ah!” and “Aaaargh!”
Juninho’s free-kicks had been wayward but now he rifled in a ferocious shot which Kawaguchi might have saved, despite the awesome power and the awkward, slightly dipping trajectory.
That made it 2-1.
BRAZIL were now bubbling under the top three, behind Argentina, Spain and Ghana.
Robinho started a fantastic move from the left back position, finding Ronaldinho on the halfway line, and his pass released left back Gilberto in acres of space to fire a deadly low shot across the keeper for 3-1.
It was Gilberto’s first goal for Brazil on a night when he won his tenth cap.He is 29 and plays for Hertha Berlin
Robinho then slalomed through an the left, but his pass just eluded Ronaldo, who checked his run.
NO DOUBT about it : Robinho gets Brazil running, playing, shooting, scoring. The little man made a big difference, as I hoped he would..
Ze Roberto came on for Kaka, Ricardinho for Ronaldinho, and Lucio went on one of those dribbles upfield where you know all the other players are thinking, “Stay back, big man – just give it to me.”
SOME INSTINCT told me to switch over to BBC3, just in time to see a replay of the Harry Kewell goal that made it 2-2 in the Croatia-Australia game.
After watching that for a few seconds, I flicked back to BBC1 just in time for a replay of another Ronaldo goal for 4-1.He combined sweetly with raiding centreback Juan, turned on the D, and hit a mighty shot just inside the post, just like the Ronaldo of old.
Ronaldo is not long out of intensive care, but Robinho’s running has revived the sleeping giant, and put the sparkle back into Nike’s samba salesmen.
Clearly, Adriano and Ronaldo should not play together in this World Cup.
The camera caught Roberto Carlos, lying on the ground near the bench, looking angry, sullen, alienated.The team is selected on seniority, so Carlos may be back for the Ghana game.
THE BRAZIL STORY has been weird this time because it is unfolding like some mad South American soap opera. It’s a dysfunctional family where the much-loved eldest son is in rehab and the No 2. son has become a hoodlum.
Carlos Alberto Parreira is the severe, autocratic father, while grey-haired Mario Zagallo is like Miss Ellie in Dallas, ancient and wise, but always worrying.
As the alcoholic Sue Ellen used to say every week, “Bobby, you’ve gotta give me a bit more time.”
But Sue Ellen’s pronunciation was Texan. She always said, “Bobby, you’ve gotta give me a bit more taahm.”