A year ago, I was fortunate enough to watch from the stands of “Maracana” the Rio derby “Vasco da Gama” - “Fluminense”, and I found an unprecedented case of the fans joining two teams in one speech. When the Vasco coach replaced Romario in the middle of the second half, the fans of both clubs began to chant: “Burro!” (“Donkey!”). At the end of his outstanding European career, Romario managed to play both for Vaska and for Fluminense, and now he is anxiously, hysterically loved by fans of both clubs. Moreover, the coaches of both teams opposed each other on the Maracan, he appointed.
Romario was heavy, gloomy and inactive, but still very, very dangerous. Even in the fifth ten, he retained a killer blow, which, if not tutelized, the “ten” Vasco successfully uses. But when he is patronized fiercely, Romario falls down convincingly, and the judge gives a penalty - even if this decision is only 5% motivated by some paragraph of the football rules, and another 95% by respect for the best player of the 1994 World Cup. All penalties and penalties Romario, of course, hits himself. Already then, a year ago, he was obsessed with the idea of conquering the mark of 1000 goals in his career - like Pele. Actually, this is the only thing that delayed him in football to gray hair. A person who has been nicknamed Shorty since childhood cannot neglect such heights.
For most of the Vasco-Fluminense match, Romario was on duty at a favorite point at the round-off in front of the penalty area and spread his arms to the sides (depending on the game context, it meant “give the ball here!” Or “why didn't you give the ball here?”) , and it looked like something painfully familiar. Absolutely - not the one Romario who shone at one time in PSV, Barcelona and the Brazilian national team. But what? I had to delve into the memory for a long time, until I finally fixed my eyes on the emblematic statue on top of Corcovado.
The situation of Romario and Jesus, spreading his arms over Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil is very similar. They believe the 41-year-old charismatic striker, no matter what the journalists wrote about the upcoming anniversary. Romario counted his own goals with the same typically Brazilian dexterity with which he fooled defenders and judges for 25 years of his career. Among the 999 goals that the Vasku forward ascribes to himself, it turns out there are goals scored in matches for youth and veteran teams, that is, outside professional football. The most respected Brazilian football magazine Placar counted Romario 101 goals less. Behind this magazine are the traditional techniques of football statistics. But behind Romario - the opium power of the love of millions. And like all true love, it is blind. Without taking the plunged Romario to the 2002 World Cup, Louise Felipe Scolari was subjected to serious pressure from fans, who calmed down only after the Brazilian national team won this tournament. The whole country, like Romario himself, is preparing to celebrate the anniversary in the coming days. No, wait a couple of years, as prescribed by statistics, no one in Brazil intends.
The Vasku, which is in a financial crisis (almost all Brazilian clubs are in a financial crisis now, this is their usual state), now it’s not possible to pay any decent salary to Romario. The “Vasco” pays off with Romario the rights to other players. In addition, Vasco da Gama holds the limit of friendly matches so that Romario can quickly get to the cherished mark. And yet, although Romario has the privilege of personally choosing a coach to the team, he himself does not train much, preferring to hang out in the institutions on the ocean shore until morning. True - you need to give him his due - he does not drink.
For the sake of his dreams, Romario has even sacrificed vacations in recent years. During a break in the championships of Brazil and the state of Rio de Janeiro, he went to play for the Australian and American clubs - Adelaide and Miami. They say that he didn’t ask for a big salary. The main thing is that he is constantly released on the field, more often given the ball, and also that the ocean was close.
Romario, of course, will very soon score this ball and make everyone - us too - believe that he has become the thousandth. Judges and opponents, after all, also constantly fall for his tricks. Great player. Big man. Great artist.
Dmitry NAVOSHA
English accent
Dmitry Navoshi conference on English football