Brazil could take lessons from Russia. The national side, have world stars splattered all over the Selecao set-up. But a defensive approach, with two ‘volantes’, and a lack of cohesion in the side has led to media criticism and pressure for the panache to return.

In comparison, Russian football is at an all time high. The sides are bankrolled by rich oligarchs (well, have you ever heard of a poor one?) and despite the recent economic crisis – Roman Abramovich is £11.9 billion pounds poorer – things are looking up. In Brazil, the fans are disillusioned by these huge names that represent their nation, and escape to Europe as soon as possible predominantly for money.

Russia’s national team and Premier league has undergone a renaissance over the last few years. Zenit St. Petersburg and CSKA Moscow have won the UEFA Cup in 2008 and 2006 respectively. The national side, under the stewardship of miracle worker and occasional manager Gus Hiddink, reached the semi-final of Euro 2008. They were hugely attacking, with that defensive frailty which was often Brazil’s Achilles’ heel.

The adventure of the full-backs Zhirkov and Anyukov often but opposition wingers on the back foot, while the clever movement of the forwards created a fluid attack, which many were quick to call the second coming of ‘totaalvoetbal’. This was the obvious headline for many media outlets after the stunning win over Holland. Yet the former USSR were playing with such creativity and élan with this current side finally overcoming that inferiority complex and returning to Russia’s football heritage.

This country first saw Dinamo Moscow on their “passovotchka” tour of 1945. Or rather they didn’t. A match full of goals against Arsenal at White Hart Lane was played in thick fog. The Russians had beaten an Arsenal side, reinforced by the presence of the great Stanley Matthews, by four goals to three. Yet the interchanging of positions and ease of movement was barely witnessed under the blanket of fog - until the game against Cardiff. The Eastern Europeans walked in 10 goals against the Welsh side. The imprint Dinamo forged on English minds faded until another side from the Soviet bloc arrived under the nickname the Magical Magyars. Eight years later, England endured their first defeat at Wembley, a 6-3 thrashing, whilst being humiliated 7-1 in Hungary a year later.

It was this tradition which club side Zenit and the Russian national team have returned to. Is it a coincidence that the two men in charge of both teams are Dutch? Probably not, as Russian football has similar purist ideals to that of the wonderful Holland side of 1974. Unfortunately, there is that profligacy and defensive fragility which has seen these sides fall to defeat having dominated for most of the game. On Saturday night, while Wembley was enduring one of the least one-sided thrashings in football history, in Germany fans actually saw a game of two halves. In the first half, Podolski and Ballack gave a strong Germany a deserved lead. But they woke up a sleeping giant.

Russia ripped the Germans to shreds, the intensity of the movement, pace and precision of every pass led to the German box being flooded with red shirts every few minutes. Arshavin pulled a goal back, with Hiddink’s side hitting the post and forcing Rene Adler into making some stunning saves. But in the end, the inability to take their chances told. It would have been worse if Roman Pavlyuchenko was in the side. A similar sequence of events occurred in the Champions League, with Zenit humiliating real Madrid’s defence but never able to make the killing blow. One commentator compared them to Arsenal, with the appreciation of style present, along with the many telling weaknesses.

What is brilliant is how both sides continue to stick to their principles rather than bow to the stoic, defensive football of many other international sides. You could spend 10 minutes listing these teams: England, Greece, Sweden, but Brazil? Under Dunga’s reign, the complacency has gone but the flair has vanished. Yes, Brazil won 4-0 away against Venezuela on Sunday, but it was more to do with facing a side who seemed to make it their mission to show budding footballers how not to defend. It wasn’t really to do with the fluent ‘Brazilian’ style, although there were some fine individual efforts from Kaka and Robinho. Dunga’s 1994 side were known for their efficiency and work rate but this new mentality has seen the ‘Brazilian’ football trademark vanish and is being left to other nations. Russia is one of these countries.

While Dunga may have won the 2007 Copa America, it was through a powerful and physical performance rather than the flicks and short passing game for which the samba nation are renowned for. We are present during a period of stylistic change and identity for many nations. Stereotypes are fast being discarded in the modern game but some things always stay the same. MOTD presenter Gary Lineker once said:

‘Football is a simple game: 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes – and at the end, the Germans win’

 

Unfortunately for Russia, the ex-footballer, who is quite fond of fake-tan, once more proved to be right.