A dejected Brazil arrives home

Written by Joe Kent , 04.07 00h33

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Yesterday two planes left Frankfurt’s International Airport carrying the Brazilian team and coaching staff home rather earlier than many had predicted. Parreira, Gilberto and other staff were flown to Rio de Janeiro while Ricardinho, Cafu, Rogerio, Ceni, Robinho, Luisão, Cicinho, Cris and Fred arrived in São Paulo early this morning. Others including Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldinho Gaucho, and Dida, have elected to stay in Germany and given no indication of when they intend to return.

Upon his arrival in Rio Parreira was discretely steered clear of the media and the pack of fifty or so fans who had gathered to call for his dismissal and demand the return of Scolari. Gilberto however took the time to share his thoughts with some of the awaiting journalists, “In the hour of loss you have to listen to what people have to say. I’ve already heard some positive comments, some negative. People have the right to complain.” He promised to continue with his training and admitted that he is already dreaming of 2010.

Parreira is set to address the media later on today in Rio but did appear briefly for journalists before leaving Germany. He acknowledged that there had been divisions in the team; the split being between the old school consisting of Roberto Carlos, Cafu and Adrainao, and the younger Kaka, Rogerio, Ricardinho and Juninho who all wanted to see changes in the team. He admitted that they had failed to come together at the time when it mattered most and expressed his sadness at the way things have changed since he himself formed part of Brazil’s 1958 World Cup winning squad. “Then the team left Brazil together, everyone one in uniform and everyone having visited the president. We had a farewell game and we all returned together. There was a symbolism in that, a romanticism; now this has changed, just like the world has changed. Now when the players come together it’s different; the players live in Europe . . Everything is different.”

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