Brazil Soccer

The Fun of Soccer in Brazil

Brazil soccer games will get your blood pumping and have you sitting on the edge of your seat to see what will happen next!

Brazilians have turned the game of soccer, or football as they call it, into an amazing display of athleticism, fancy footwork, and impressive choreography. Yes, we're talking about the game of soccer!

Soccer is the favorite sport in Brazil and it's no wonder when you consider that Team Brazil has captured 5 World Cup Championships - an honor that no other team can match. The Brazil national football team was awarded the Jules Rimet Trophy for keeps once they won their 3rd World Cup. No other team has had this honor.

Watching the Brazil team play soccer is not like watching your local backyard soccer game. It is said in Brazil that as soon as a little one can walk, they are taught the game of soccer. There are over 10,000 Brazilians who play professional football, soccer, around the world.

History of Brazil Soccer

Legendary Brazilian soccer player Edson "Pele" Arantes do Nacimento with his wife, autographing a soccer ball for former U.S. President Nixon in the early 1970's.

• 1914 - first football match ever played by the Brazil national team
  
  
• 1958 - Brazil is the first team to ever win a World Cup championship outside of their home country - won the FIFA World Cup hosted in Sweden
  
  
• 1962 - Won the FIFA World Cup for the 2nd time
  
  
• 1970 - Won the FIFA World Cup for the 3rd time in Mexico
  
  
• 1994 - Won the World Cup for the 4th time in the United States
  
  
• 2002 - Won the World Cup for the 5th time
  
  
• 2005 - Captured the Confederations Cup for 2nd time against Argentina
  
  
• 2007 - Won FIFA Confederations Cup hosted by South Africa
  
  
• 2010 - Brazil's first World Cup loss since 1950
  
  
• 2014 - Brazil will host the FIFA World Cup in their home country

Brazilians are so proud of their national soccer team that they often refer to their own country as the country of football or o pais do futebol.

Nicknames of the Brazil Soccer Team

Brazilians refer to their team with pride using many different nicknames. A few include:

• Canarinho - Little Canary
  
  
• Selecao Brasileira or Selecao Brasileira de Futebol
  
  
• Pentacampeao - Five Time Champions
  
  
• Verde-amarelo - Green Yellow
  
  
• Amarelinha - Little Yellow One
  
  
• Esquadrao de Ouro - the Golden Squad

Some of the most talented soccer players in the world have come from the Brazil soccer team. Players from Brazil's team who are known around the world include Pele, Ronaldihno, Zico, Tostao, Dunga, Rivaldo, Garincha, Taffarel, Ronaldo, Socrates, Romario, Cafu, and Bebeto to name a few.

Colors of the Brazil Soccer Team

The colors of the team uniforms varied from blue and white in 1914, to yellow and green striped jersey with white shorts in 1916, red jersey and white shorts in 1917, green, white, and yellow jersey with white shorts in 1918, yellow and black striped jersey with black shorts in 1919, white jersey and blue shorts from 1919-1945, solid white from 1945-1950, and solid blue from 1950-1953.

Since 1954, the Brazil national soccer team has worn a yellow jersey with green trim around the collar and sleeves with blue shorts to proudly represent the four colors in the Brazilian flag.

What is the Difference Between Soccer and Football?

There are many similarities between the games of soccer and football, but they are very different games in many ways as well. All sports that involve the use of the foot and a ball to score in the game are referred to as a game of football.

The game of football in the United States brings to mind an elliptical shaped ball and players in helmets playing to score touchdowns. The country of Brazil says football when they refer to the game that uses a spherical ball used to score goals.

Football can be a generic term or it can be used to refer to a specific sport in a country.

Similarities between soccer and football:

• Both games require two teams
  
  
• Both games require the ball is moved from one end of the field to the other in order to make a goal or touchdown
  
  
• Specific guidelines apply to both games as to how the ball is to be moved across the field
  
  
• Scoring is similar in that whoever scores the most goals or touchdowns is the winner of the game

Differences between soccer and football:

• Football players can use their hands and arms to catch or move the ball
  
  
• Soccer players can use their heads, body, or feet to move the ball, but not their hands or arms
  
  
• Football - uses an elliptical shaped ball
  
  
• Soccer - uses a spherical shaped ball
  
  
• Football players wear quite a bit of protective gear to protect their bodies from harm when tackled
  
  
• Soccer players don't require protective gear per se because they use primarily their feet, and not arms and hands to move the ball - no tackling allowed

Soccer is a Brazilian Pastime

Soccer isn't played just by the pros in Brazil. Young boys, by age 3, have learned how to dribble a soccer ball. Boys age 7 and up play soccer games daily on any open space available. You could probably find an impromptu game happening just about anywhere in the city during a given day in Brazil.

The majority of the people living in Brazil are in deep poverty. Soccer is the one ticket out of that lifestyle if the talent is learned early enough. Many of the popular soccer players on the Brazil soccer team came from very poor backgrounds, learning soccer at a very young age.

Image Credit: via Wikimedia Commons