CARLOS ALBERTO PARREIRA’S TACTICS and team selection may be being questioned, but the Brazil coach has seen no reason to change a laid-back approach to defending their title. After a disappointing performance against Croatia, Brazil’s players were given 24 hours off to spend as they wished, with Parreira’s only instruction that they had to be back in the Falkenstein Hotel in Königstein, near Frankfurt, by 10.30pm last night. Where many went in the meantime was anybody’s guess.
Having left the Olympic Stadium in something of a hurry, a few of Brazil’s players rushed to the airport, with many of them racing to alternative destinations. After spending Tuesday night in Berlin it is understood that Lúcio and Zé Roberto flew to their homes in Munich, where they play for Bayern.
Ronaldo is also thought to have headed for Munich, although his precise plans were less clear. Many jumped to the conclusion that the fun-loving striker had first sampled the delights of some of east Berlin’s nightclubs. The Brazilian football federation certainly appeared to have no idea what he was up to, with one official running around the stadium on Tuesday asking journalists if any of them had seen him.
Gilberto Silva was stranded at the stadium after the team coach left without him. The Arsenal midfield player was left searching for a lift in the suburbs of west Berlin after failing to find a taxi, capping a pretty dismal evening as he had not featured in the match. Cicinho, along with Kaká, was one of few players definitely to make the plane as he had firm plans to enjoy his day off. It is understood that the Real Madrid defender had instructed his agent to drive his car from the Spanish capital to Frankfurt so his client could enjoy a day’s driving.
Parreira is understood to have concerns. Júlio César, the reserve goalkeeper, broke an 11.20pm deadline by which family members should have left their hotel on Sunday and Ronaldo returned one minute before a 10.30pm curfew last week. It may well prove to have been the fastest he moves all tournament.