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Brazilians hear music on the pitch
Kaka of Brazil won Europe's Play of the Year honor in 2007
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IN about 100 days, China's men's football team will have to put on their dancing shoes.
At the Beijing Games in August, China will be paired in Group C with Belgium, New Zealand and – most notably – Brazil, a gold medal favorite. The South American country that birthed Pele has won five World Cup crowns and continues to play to its own tune.
"Brazilians play football like they dance, and it is this exuberance that makes them so great to watch," Conor Foley wrote in The Guardian newspaper.
The playful, spontaneous play of Brazilian footballers has over the years drawn a sharp contrast to the play of many European teams. In Europe, the game of football is played fast and physical. Offensive attacks rely less on finesse and more on power and speed.
The Brazilian game, on the other hand, is known for what locals call its "ginga", or "sway". The word comes from a dance-sport that is enjoyed all over the country. "Brazilians often use the word 'ginga' to describe the skill of their greatest players, such as Pele and Garrincha. Why pass the ball when you can just sway past your opponent?" wrote Foley.
In this way, the player with the ball is not so much trying to force his way through a group of defenders. Instead, he's patiently waiting for an opportunity to give them a move and slip past them.
Carlos Alberto Torres, who captained Brazil's 1970 World Cup champion team, told the BBC that Brazil's traditionally innovative playing style is due in part to its approach to youth football.
In Europe, children begin playing in youth leagues when they are old enough to kick a ball. In Brazil, children play football on their own until they can benefit from coaching. Torres says this nurtures a more creative playing style.
Beginning in the 1970s, however, the country began losing some of its "ginga". As the game evolved all over the world, various Brazilian coaches felt the need to modernize the team's play. Still, some of the sway remains.
"In Europe, if you are dancing in the team bus before [arriving at] a World Cup final match, it would be viewed as not concentrating," Leonardo, a member of Brazil's 1994 World Cup champion team, told the BBC. "But in Brazil if you are not speaking and laughing on the bus that is seen as being afraid. It is a different mentality."
Fearless youth
THE country of Brazil is fertile farmland for football talent. Meet two of tomorrow's biggest Brazilian stars:
Alexandre Pato, 18
AC Milan, striker
When Alexandre Pato was just 10, he learned he had a tumor in his arm. His family didn't have enough money to cover the surgery, and doctors feared the tumor would soon become cancerous. Fortunately, a family friend and doctor offered to conduct the medical procedure for free. Ever since, l. He signed with AC Milan in August 2007 and scored in his debut match with the club, shedding tears of joy after the goal. But who could fault the teenager? He was playing alongside his heroes, Cristiano Ronaldo and fellow countryman Kaka.
Anderson Oliveira, 20
Manchester United, forward
It's tough for many players to leave the Samba beats of Brazil, but in 2005 Anderson Oliveira moved to Portugal to play in his first international league. Later, in 2007, he signed with Manchester United in rainy northwest England. United fans are usually keen to let the club's youngest players wait for their chance to shine. Not so with Anderson. Although he just turned 20, The Guardian's Duncan Castles says he has the "decision-making intelligence of a 30-year-old". He adds that he's "as self-confident as they come". Says Anderson in an interview: "Scared? I've never been scared of anything. In football you can't be scared."
生词：
cancerous 癌的
exuberance 茂盛, 丰富
finesse 技巧，策略
mentality 精神, 心理
physical 身体的
Samba 桑巴舞
tumor 瘤
