Opinion – Juca Kfouri: The ‘Croatians’ turn

No, the rare reader and the rare reader do not think so badly of the columnist.

He knows how to use gentile, he just wants to tell two stories.

The first on João Mendonça Falcão, a folkloric top hat in the 1960s/70s, president of the São Paulo Football Federation, who called the Belgians “Belgicans” after they thrashed the Brazilian team, two-time world champion, 5-1, in Brussels, in 1963.

Years later, at the 1974 World Cup in Germany, still as a journalism apprentice, I shared with the late Tao Gomes Pinto the guidance given to teams from Veja and Placar magazines in their coverage of the Cup, which made the Netherlands national team famous, A Clockwork Orange, coach Rinus Michels and the brilliant Johan Cruyff.

For Tao decided to treat the Dutch as “Dutchmen”. And he took it.

The Croatians have already deserved it, since they surprised Planeta Bola with the runner-up in Russia, equally differentiated treatment. Even more so for the absolutely original and unmistakable French bistro uniform.

The “Croatians”, this Friday (9), will be the opponents of the selection for the quarterfinals of the World Cup in Qatar.

Now, for those who, out of excessive respect, and for never considering any game won before it was played, were afraid of naive South Korea, who repeated the mistake of the June friendly, when they took five, to take four in the Cup because the selection rested in the second half after shining in the first, Croatia is really on another level.

Starting with the fact that he loves extra time and decides his disagreements on the penalty spot.

This he did to eliminate the bad Japanese batsmen, but not for the first time.

In this Cup, they tied with Morocco and Belgium without goals — and thrashed Canada by 4 to 1, which the team of this Sheet I would also do with a little training. With Japan, he ended up at a miserable 1-1. And he moved on.

In the Russian Cup, he scored 100% in the first phase, passing through Iceland, Nigeria and beating Argentina 3-0.

In the round of 16, they drew 1-1 with Denmark and defeated them on penalties, just as they did with the hostess: 2-2, and on penalties.

They beat England 2-1 and finally lost to France in the final, 4-2.

He deserves, therefore, respect with his ics, the notable Perisic, Petkovic and, above all, the veteran Modric, 37 years old and much, much wisdom.

Needless to remember that Croatia was part of the old Yugoslavia of Marechal Tito, considered, in football, like the Brazilians of Europe.

Tite’s team, who even danced the pigeon dance now, is better, much better, but Spain was also superior to Morocco and succumbed to the African defense and fans.

World Cups are very strange.

Of the four clashes that we will now have, certainly the one between France and England is the most interesting, followed by Argentina and Holland and Portugal and Morocco.

Because the world of football considers the question between Brazilians and “Croatians” resolved and anticipates the semifinal between Argentina and Brazil.

Don’t really believe in such a truism.

Of the select club of eight world champions, half remained in the quarterfinals and no one would bet that Portugal would put Switzerland 6-1, not to mention Morocco, whose crowd has been able to leave Argentina in the slipper — and there is no such thing any demerit to the brothers.

Just the realization that, if anyone still represents grassroots football in the world, it’s the Africans.