According to Moroccan media outlet Hespress, Brazil legend Cafu recently gave an exclusive interview in which he addressed the controversy over Brazil's alleged deliberate loss to Norway at the 1998 World Cup in France, a result that left Morocco out of the knockout stage. He firmly denied that the two teams had any agreement. He also discussed Ronaldo's sudden health problem before the World Cup final, the Brazil national team's recent performances, his own World Cup experiences and Vinicius's future at Real Madrid.
On the 1998 World Cup match between Brazil and Norway, Cafu explicitly denied that Brazil had deliberately helped Norway advance at the expense of Morocco. He said Brazil always played to win every World Cup match and never intended to give up any game.
Cafu stressed that if Brazil's players had been able to beat Norway, they would have done so without hesitation, and that the claim of a prior agreement between the two teams was completely unfounded.
The controversy dates back to the final round of the 1998 World Cup group stage in France. Morocco beat Scotland 3-0 and briefly had hope of reaching the Round of 16, but Norway then beat Brazil 2-1 and took the qualification place. The result led some Moroccan fans to question the Brazil-Norway match for years afterwards.
Looking back on that tournament, Cafu also spoke about Brazil's 3-0 loss to France in the final. A major controversy surrounding that match was Ronaldo's sudden health problem before kick-off.
Cafu confirmed that Ronaldo did suffer a seizure about six hours before the final, but he does not believe it was the reason Brazil lost.
Cafu said: "It is true that Ronaldo had a seizure about six hours before the game started. But we didn't lose the World Cup final because of that. France played better than us and were more efficient on the field, so they won the game."
On the decline in Brazil's World Cup results in recent years, Cafu believes the main reason is frequent changes of coaching staff and players, which have left the team without the continuity it needs.
He said Brazil have made significant changes in recent years, continually bringing young players into an experienced squad. However, because of frequent coaching changes and the lack of a stable core group of players, the team has never established a clear playing style or a settled tactical system, which has hurt its performances and results in international competitions.
Speaking about his own World Cup career, Cafu said he played in four World Cups and is the only player in football history to have played in three consecutive World Cup finals, in 1994, 1998 and 2002.
Cafu said these experiences left him with too many precious memories to sum up in a single moment. If he had to choose the best one, though, it would be winning the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan.
At that tournament, Cafu captained Brazil and lifted the World Cup trophy as the team won its fifth World Cup title.
Recalling the 1994 World Cup final against Italy, Cafu spoke about Roberto Baggio missing the decisive penalty in the shootout.
Cafu said that it was a moment of joy for the Brazil players but of great disappointment for Italy. He believes this stark emotional contrast is part of competitive Sport.
Cafu also said he later met Baggio on several occasions and that the two have always had a relationship of mutual respect. He praised Baggio's place in the history of world football and said that players understand each other's value, so there is no need to keep bringing up the painful moments in one another's careers.
On his club career, Cafu named Milan's loss to Liverpool in the 2005 Champions League final as one of his most painful football memories.
Milan led 3-0 at halftime, but Liverpool scored three goals in the second half and went on to win the title on penalties.
Cafu said that defeat was one of the hardest of his career to accept. Two years later, however, Milan met Liverpool again in the 2007 Champions League final and won, making up for the earlier disappointment.
Asked about the greatest players in football history, Cafu singled out the late Brazil legend Pelé. He believes Pelé is the "Player of the Century" and one of the greatest players the Sport has seen.
Cafu said Pelé's achievements and his place in the history of world football make it difficult to compare him directly with other stars.
On the future of Brazil forward Vinicius at Real Madrid, Cafu said that although the player may have faced criticism and difficulties recently, now is not the right time for him to leave the club.
Cafu said: "Real Madrid still needs Vinicius, and Vinicius also needs Real Madrid."
He stressed that Vinicius has enormous potential and many years ahead of him to perform at a high level. Every player goes through ups and downs in form during a career, which is normal, and Vinicius can still score goals and compete well in matches.
Finally, Cafu reiterated that success in major competitions, whether with a national team or a top club, requires a stable coaching staff, squad continuity and a consistent long-term direction.
He pointed to the Brazil teams with which he won two World Cups as an example, saying that a clear tactical system and playing style are an important factor in achieving results at the highest level.
SGTSingam
1
He didn't talk about Ancelotti because he knows Brazil leads to nowhere 🤣
Amaraonyedot
0
You just said your mind