Subject: Brazilian Football team and their Faith - World Cup 2002
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FW: From the Desk of...
Joseph Dias,
^Ecumenical ^Evangelical ^Interdenominational
Brazilian Football team and their Faith
World Cup Thanksgiving to God
The World Cup 2002 was not supposed to be Brazil’s
tournament.
A powerful Argentinean teaming sporting the likes of
Batistuta and Verón seemed unbeatable, while the Brazilians had barely managed
to qualify.
A Selecão did receive a lucky draw, however, and played
China, Turkey, and Costa Rica in the group stage.
After defeating these three opponents the team went on
the play Belgium and then England in the quarter-finals.
In the semi-final game they once again matched up
against Turkey and managed to win 1-0.
Meanwhile, Argentina had been eliminated in the group
stage by a David Beckham goal and stellar play from the Swedish squad, and a
Germany team led by star goalkeeper Oliver Kahn was all that stood between
Brazil and World Cup glory.
Kahn won the trophy amidst the frenetic celebration and
streaming confetti a group of three players, including Kaka and Lucio, knelt
face down on the field and gave thanks to God for the victory.
Later, the entire team knelt in prayer to give God the
glory, and on the winner’s podium several players sported shirts with slogans
such as,
“I belong to Jesus” and “Jesus loves you.”
After the 2002 World Cup several Brazilian players
continued to publicly display their faith.
There were a total of seven Christians on the 2006
Brazilian World Cup roster; many were known for praying on the field and for
modelling Christian apparel after scoring a goal or winning a game.
Lucio and Kaká continued to lead the Christian
delegation – both displayed Christian-message shirts after Brazil won the 2005
and 2009 Confederations Cups.
Lucio became the team captain after Brazil’s
disappointing 2006 World Cup performance.
He does not seem to be overly concerned with the weight
of a nation resting on his shoulders, he said “anyone who steps onto the
football field has to accept the result. When you lose there is a need to
analyze why.”
His analysis must have been effective – in the early
summer of 2009 Brazil beat the USA to win the Confederations Cup.
In the upcoming World Cup the expectations for the
Brazilian side will once again be high, but the players are quick to point out
that life is about more than winning and losing.
In an online interview Lucio said,
“Anyone who thinks that he has everything and doesn’t
have Jesus doesn’t have anything.”
Hats Off to Brazil Team
- fwd: samuel machado
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