Um discurso de brasilidade: a seleção brasileira de 1994 no jornal Folha de São Paulo

Abstract

Abstract : This paper analysed the imaginary of the Brazilian national team of 1994 on Folha de S. Paulo newspaper (FSP), in the period between 01/01/1994 and 12/31/1994. On our path to reach the research problem, the experience of following the sports press debates was important. The team coached by Carlos Alberto Parreira had a turbulent trajectory before, during and after the World Cup in the United States. What we verified on FSP articles indicates that the Brazilian team of 1994 would not have honored the glorious traditions of Brazilian football, although having won the competition. Such glorious traditions would be likely linked with the playing style, the so-called "jogo bonito", and "football art". The antagonists would be precisely Parreira and his technical coordinator Zagallo, the last one with a controversial past. Striker Romário, to beyond the press, would be a further point of tension, because he would symbolize the few "brasilidade" - essential nature or character of a Brazilian - remaining in the team. Much of the academic thought, even not considering such characteristics of Brazilian football, corroborates the necessity of the assertion of national identity, where the "Brazilian style" would be fundamental. The laudatory obliquity that many times is not distinguished of what the sports press historically used to diffuse, demonstrated the need of more field researches without the obligation of praising the "brasilidade".