Português

Uma análise feita por computação gráfica, publicada na revista oficial da Fifa, prova que Dunga foi um dos melhores distribuidores de passes de todos os tempos. Os Americanos Zvi Friedman e Jonathan Kotas, depois de anos de pesquisas e estudos, descobriram que através do computador, podem adquirir e calcular números exatos, e assim revelar a verdade sobre fatos relacionados à eficiência de esquema tático e a performance individual dos jogadores.

Como teste de sua tecnologia, o entusista Friedman e o programador Kotas decidiram fazer uma comparação entre mito e realidade, escolhendo analisar a performance do camisa 8 de 1994, Dunga, com a do camisa 8 de 1970, Gérson.

Usando os vídeos das finais de 94 e de 70, Friedman usou sua tecnologia para analisar todos os lances e toques de bola de cada partida. Os resultados revelam que o jogador mais defensivo foi Gérson e não Dunga. Provam também que Gérson executou menos passes do que Dunga, tendo como seu alvo principal, Carlos Alberto Torres que recebeu 20 de seus passes. Dunga no entanto, não só desarmou a maioria das jogadas adversárias, como imediatamente, após o desarme, lançou o ataque de sua equipe. Romário recebeu mais de 29 passes durante a partida. Dunga que distribuiu mais passes do que Gérson, em 120 minutos errou apenas 15% do número total de passes sob o sol intenso e o calor insuportável de Pasadena. Gérson por outro lado errou mais de 22% em 90 minutos, vendo seus passes terminar nos pés de Rivera, Mazzola e companhia.

Claro que uma vitória de 4-1 é capaz de criar um mito maior do que um empate, e nos olhos dos fãs a seleção de 1970 vai sempre ser iluminada, mas a realidade prova que Dunga foi pelo menos tão construtivo dentro de campo quanto Gérson.

English

It sometimes happens that the unobtrusive player proves to be the most productive performer in his team. Often playing the part of the plodder, he is the one who drags his side back from the brink in the nick of time. Now, new computer software could give this very player the recognition he deserves. FIFA Magazine has been peering over the shoulder of specialists in the field.

But there comes a time when the wonders of today tear away the veil of mystery enveloping the past. Computers, and particularly the ever-increasing sophistication of their programmes, have a knack of burying such myths and it was only a matter of time before they would invade the world of sport.

Originally they were used for word processing or mathematical computation but now comprehensive computer graphics have opened up new worlds for futuristic analyses of the game of football.

Of all people, it was two Americans, Zvi Friedman and Jonathan Kotas, who, after years of experimenting, developed a programme that can retrace the technique and tactics of a football game using computer graphics. The final target is the football coach whose life will supposedly be made easier as a result of it, especially in his analysis of the game and his method of coaching the players. In the 1970 World Cup final, the Brazilians returned the ball to their goalkeeper eleven times during 90 minutes of play.

The world of opportunities that this programme opens up after analysis is - since the introduction of video film "post mortems" - tantamount to a second revolution in the evaluation of football matches and similar team sports. The team's backbone - the axis of key players - suddenly becomes apparent and zone marking appears at the click of a finger. The observer's impressions are transformed into objective patterns of play on the computer and tactical counteraction can then be devised and implemented.

Starting from the premise that even the most complex maneouvres can be condensed down to repetitive movement, he and other experts worked out appropriate programmes. Sooner or later Friedmann - a passionate soccer coach in his spare time - suddenly realised that such findings could also be applied to his favourite sport. The idea haunted him for a long while before he came across Jon Kotas, a programmer who made his dream come true.

But let us return to Romario's team-mate and combative captain, Dunga, who is now cashing in on the twilight of his career with Jubilo Iwata in Japan. Disgusted with the scornful remarks from Brazilian reporters who had accorded Dunga the same lamentable fate as the great Gerson, Friedman set about researching the facts. He acquired the video of the legendary 1970 final and subjected it to meticulous analysis with his programme. He realised his determination had been worthwhile as soon as the graphics began to appear on the screen. The more defensive player had not been Dunga but, in fact, Gerson. The computer proved mercilessly that Gerson (even calculated at 120 theoretical minutes) had touched considerably fewer passes than Dunga, many of which had been square passes. Gerson's favourite taker had not been Pelé but Carlos Alberto, the recipient of twenty such passes. "Destructive" Dunga, on the other hand, had intercepted opponents' attacks and immediately propelled the ball forward. Romario had received the ball no fewer than 29 times with no reason whatsoever to complain of being neglected by his team-mates. What probably pleased Carlos Alberto Parreira was the fact that his figurehead had bungled only 15 per cent of the passes in the oppressive heat of the day under the Pasadena sun. Gerson seems to have suffered more from the altitude in Mexico because a little more than 22 per cent of his passes had landed at the feet of Rivera, Mazzola and consorts.

A comparison between the two finals in 1970 and 1994 threw more light on other facts too. Until the back pass to the goalkeeper was banned it had been a surefire method, as everyone knows, of wasting time or of relieving pressure from opponents. Even the "best team of all time" was no exception to this rule. In 1970, the Brazilians returned the ball to their goalkeeper eleven times during 90 minutes of play and Gerson had been the instigator of this emergency brake three times. The computer programme also revealed that the very last back pass originated from Pele, himself after 89 minutes and 43 seconds. And what of the Brazilians in 1994? As a consequence of the changes that football has undergone in the meantime, only three throw-ins and five back passes landed back with Taffarel in the space of 120 minutes. More convincing evidence of the impact of the ban on the back pass would be very hard to find.

Of course, a 4-1 triumph is more inclined to create myths or glorify the performance of solo stars than a goalless draw. In the eyes of the fans and in the history of the World Cup, the 1970 final will surely maintain its cult image. Having been vindicated by the computer, Dunga will now be able to lay legitimate claim to being at least as constructive on the field as the famous Gerson himself.
(ah)

source: www.fifa.com

Born October 31, 1963 in Ijuí, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Dunga is the greatest football defensive midfielder of all time, of Italian and German descent and a World Champion for Brazil in the 1994 World Cup.

FIFA World Cup winning captain 1994
FIFA World Cup runner up captain 1998

96 Games , 66 Victories , 21 Draws , 9 Losses , 7 goals for the Brazilian National Football Team

FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1994, 1998