Soccer Nostalgia: The Soccernostalgia Interview- Part 75-A video Interview and blog presentation with Atlético Mineiro’s Supporters Ambassador in New Jersey, Mr. Stanley Cunha, discussing the fortunes of Brazil in the 1988 Seoul Olympics)

For this interview, I look back at the fortunes of Brazil in the 1988 Seoul Olynpics.

The Interview will be as a video link companion, while the Blog will be a presentation of the events.

The Interviewee is:

Atlético Mineiro’s Supporters Ambassador in New Jersey, Mr. Stanley Cunha

Mr. Cunha’s contact info:

On Twitter: @consuladogalonj

On Twitter: @stanleycunha

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/galonewjersey

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/galonewjersey/?fbclid=IwAR0vX8r2SLDTYpN9VtNd5KhIZrBh8PoMt7EjF_sn-rvA1Lbk1UDAaoBoLJ4

My contact information:

on twitter @sp1873 and on facebook under Soccernostalgia.

https://linktr.ee/sp1873

Blog Link:

https://soccernostalgia.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-soccernostalgia-interview-part-65.html

Brazil in the 1988 Seoul Olympics

Following the 1986 World Cup, the Brazil Federation’s objective was the 1988 Olympic title in Seoul, South Korea. The 1990 World Cup was a few years away and building a team with younger players for the Olympics was a priority and these players were expected to form the backbone of the full National Team for the 1990 World Cup.

Brazil appointed a new Manager, Carlos Alberto Silva on March 9^th, 1987, for this task.

He would oversee the full national Team along with the Olympics side as well as the Pan-American Games in 1987.

Naturally, C.A. Silva discarded the old guard (Zico, Socrates, Junior, etc.), who had either retired or were out of reckoning.

The likes of Careca, Branco. Josimar, Luis Muller and Alemao were available but would be available to the full National Team.

Carlos Alberto Silva’s first task was Olympics qualification. The qualifiers took place in April/May of 1987 and in the end Brazil and Argentina reached Seoul.

Photo From: World Soccer, June 1989

(Carlos Alberto Silva, Bebeto and Taffarel)

The new-look Brazil was introduced in the Summer of 1987, in a Tour of Europe that included participation in the Rous Cup.

A few veterans were included but this was clearly a team built for the future. The likes of Dunga, Rai, Romario, Valdo and future Newcastle United player Mirandhina, all made their debuts for the National Team in that Tour.

Many of this group were part of the 1987 Copa America squad to gain experience along with Careca, Josimar and Muller.

That experience ended in a disappointing fashion as Brazil lost (0-4) to Chile. Carlos Alberto Silva’s position was under threat, but the Federation kept faith in him.

He did achieve victory in the 1987 Pan-American Games in Indianapolis in the United States in August 1987, with a side that included Claudio Taffarel in goal, Ricardo and Andre Cruz in defense and Valdo and Joao Paulo to name a few.

As 1988 rolled around, the Olympics Games were on the horizon and the Olympics side was taking shape.

On May 18, 1988, Carlos Alberto Silva was re-appointed as Brazil manager.

Claudio Taffarel was now firmly established as Brazil’s number one.

Bebeto had made his debut for Brazil in 1985 but was set up for the 1988 Olympics side.

He would form a frontline partnership with Romario in the next years.

Jorginho, Aloisio and Ricardo Gomes formed a strong defense.

However, the man that was being touted to be Brazil’s next superstar was Vasco Da Gama midfielder Geovani, the captain of this team.

Ahead of the Olympics, Brazil participated in the 1988 Bicentennial Gold Cup in Australia and were victorious.

They also played friendlies against the National Teams of Norway and Austria and the Swedish Olympic side.

However, success also had a negative effect on the Team as the players were naturally solicited by European club sides.

In the summer of 1988, there were difficulties obtaining the release of Edu Marangon and Luis Muller from Torino. On July 20, 1988, the Brazilian Federation announced that all future player transfers would include a clause that would guarantee release for National Team duty.

It was a bit too late as the Federation had to face off against Portuguese giants Benfica who had signed Ricardo Gomes and Valdo.

Regarding Valdo, Benfica’s Management disputed over the length of his absence and insurance cover, etc.

In the end, Valdo and Ricardo Gomes were not released for the Tournament. The Brazilian Federation made a complaint to FIFA and Valdo was suspended.

It must be remembered that the Olympic Games were to take place in September just as most European Leagues had begun.

Brazil entered the Olympics minus a few key players but were still a capable side with many future stars.

They swept away all Group opponents (Nigeria, Australia and Yugoslavia) with Romario scoring a double against Nigeria and a hat trick against Australia, while Bebeto chipped in with two goals.

Photo From: Placar, Issue 955, September 23, 1988

(September 18, 1988, Olympics, Brazil 4-Nigeria 0)

They faced South American rivals Argentina in the Quarterfinals. The contest was decided with a long-range strike by Geovani.

The Semi-Finals against West Germany was a tougher test. The West German side (including Klinsmann and Haessler) led Brazil until Romario scored with ten minutes remaining to force overtime. The match was decided by a penalty kick shoot-out with Taffarel the hero as Brazil edged through.

Photo From: Placar, Issue 956, September 30, 1988

(September 25, 1988, Olympics, Brazil 1-Argentina 0)

Photo From: Placar, Issue 956, September 30, 1988

(September 25, 1988, Olympics, Brazil 1-Argentina 0)

Photo From: Placar, Issue 957, October 7, 1988

(Brazil squad, September 25, 1988, Olympics, Brazil 1-Argentina 0)

Photo From: World Soccer, June 1989

(September 27, 1988, Olympics, Brazil 1-West Germany 1)

Photo From: Placar, Issue 957, October 7, 1988

(September 27, 1988, Olympics, Brazil 1-West Germany 1)

Photo From: Mondial, new series, issue 104, October-November 1988

(September 27, 1988, Olympics, Brazil 1-West Germany 1)

The Final was one hurdle too many as they faced a strong Soviet Union side that included Alexei Mikhailichenko and Igor Dobovolsky.

Brazil were further hampered by the suspensions of Geovani and Ademir.

Romario gave Brazil the lead, but the Soviets came back and tied the match through a penalty kick in the 62^nd minute by Dobovolsky. They forced the match into overtime and scored the winner in the 104^th minute through Savichev.

For the Second Consecutive Olympics, Brazil had lost in the Final (1984 loss to France).

There was much disappointment but there was the basis for a future Brazilian side.

Taffarel was already being touted as Brazil’s best goalkeeper since Gilmar.

Aloisio was snapped up by Johann Cruyff’s Barcelona shortly thereafter and would eventually be a fixture for Portuguese side Porto for over a decade.

Jorginho, Andr Cruz, Joao Paulo would soon head to Europe as well.

The top goalscorer of these Games, Romario had become the great break-out star of the Tournament and would in a matter of weeks join top Dutch side PSV Eindhoven and we know the rest.

Geovani had also established himself, although he would not live up to expectations.

The future looked bright as this Team would form the backbone of the side that would win the 1994 World Cup.

As many as five players (Taffarel, Jorginho, Romario, Bebeto, Mazinho) would be part of that victorious side.

Carlos Albeto Silva thought as much when after the Final, he stated, “To the people of Brazil, who hoped so much for the Gold medal, I would ask for their understanding towards these new and younger players, players who have dignified themselves and their country.”

He would be relieved of his duties by the Federation afterwards as they looked to the 1990 World Cup with a different Manager in mind (Sebastião Lazaroni).

Carlos Alberto Silva ended up managing a multitude of Brazilian clubs as well as Portuguese giants FC Porto (two League titles in 1992 and 1993).

He passed away on January 20, 2017, at the age of 77.