Won two World Cups with Brazil and lifted the cup in 2002. He is considered one of the best full-backs story rights and an authoritative voice to speak about the tournament. Cafú (Itaquaquecetuba, Brazil, 1970) reflects on the World Cup a few hours after Neymar’s injury.
How are you doing, Cafu?
Everything’s fine.
You are an ambassador for the World Cup. Does the tournament change much when you see it this way than when you played it and won it twice?
Change everything, of course! Now I am an ambassador and I am happy to have participated in spreading the World Cup in Qatar around the world. You live differently than when you were a player. Now I feel like a representative, a manager. Before, I lived the games fully on the pitch, now it is calmer.
Brazil won, but lost Neymar…
If it’s a shame. Titus was right. He reversed Paquetá’s position and that move made Brazil stronger in the second half. Brazil created more space and allowed the wings to have more flight.
Are Neymar or Vinicius right to complain about the harshness with which they are used with them?
In reality Neymar had bad luck in entering the rival. It is said many times that he receives violent entrances. They are not attacks, they are normal plays that end in a clash. I have not seen any unfair player. They are tough plays, and he’s already there. The tendency of the great cracks like Cristiano, Messi or Neymar is to retain more of the ball and with this they are more likely to receive hard tackles.
“Neymar’s are not attacks, nobody is disloyal”
What difference is there between this Brazil and the one that won the World Cup with you in 2002, when they also lifted the trophy?
The only real difference is that Brazil was world champion and this one is looking for it…
Without Neymar, the great star of the World Cup could be Vinicius?
Without Neymar and with him! The two together are perfectly complementary. We have a good team of great players and that allows the stars to stand out.
What do you think of Militao, Rodrygo and Vinicius?
Three great world soccer players, it is clear. Real Madrid players, important as well, as they are also in the Brazilian team. They can help us reach the World Cup final.
Is Brazil worse without Neymar?
Well, lets play! Is France worse without five starters who have gone down through injury? The parties will tell. Neymar is one of our idols, of our cracks. But we cannot depend only on Neymar. There are players capable of replacing it.
Is this one of the best Brazil offensively in recent years?
We have very good forwards, it’s true. The offensive power does not suffer when one of the starters is not there because anyone can help: Richarlison, Gabriel Jesus, Pedro, Vinicius, Rodrygo… That is what makes Brazil strong, they are all good.
Did you see Spain?
Yes, sensational.
“Spain is sensational”
Can you beat Germany too?
I don’t know, these matches are unpredictable. Germany has to win yes or yes because in the other group game Japan will be classified if they win…
There are big surprises in the World Cup.
It is normal. Soccer is not an exact science. Germany does not necessarily have to beat Japan. Neither Argentina to Arabia. Japan made a perfect approach and ended up scoring two goals; Saudi Arabia also played pressing Argentina and surprised them on the counter. This is the beauty of soccer. What makes it great. Nothing is exact. The thing about Japan dates back many years, when Zico went there and made Japanese football evolve when he was the national coach. This is a consequence of that.
“Cristiano is not normal, he is a super player…”
At the moment one of protagonists is Cristiano Ronaldo…
We are talking about a super player. He is not a normal player. He has a prodigious physique and is an example of a professional. He has played in five World Cups and everything he has achieved has been because of his determination. That is why he has arrived where he has arrived. We hope Cristiano will continue playing for a long time and we can enjoy him more.
The one who is not in the World Cup is Benzema.
And yet France is a fantastic team! Even losing five important players to injury is one of the big favorites. Despite these injuries, I think it’s better to play the World Cup in this period because all the players and championships are active. Who knows if this will not become a tradition.