The cordial man is a common theme across Brazilian culture.
This lifestyle manifests itself in many of Brazil’s customs and traditions, and
none more so than futbol. The cordial man’s values of family, friends, refusal
to hide his inhibitions, and ability to lead his own life without the influence
of others is prevalent in futbol culture in both how clubs are represented and
the style of its players. From local clubs to the Brazil national team, the
Brazilian persona can be observed in the stands and on the field.
As we learned in class, each individual club largely
represents a unique group of people and subcultures within Brazil. The
Palmeiras represent and Italian style of play, which is much more strategic and
planned. Sao Paulo FC represents a more middle-upper class group, and are often
viewed as ‘soft’ in the eyes of opposing fans. The Corinthians, known as the
working class team, have the largest fan base in the state, suggesting that
many people connect with the message of the lower-class, and likely with an
underdog mentality. In many ways, fans aren’t only rooting for a single team,
but for their own ideological ideas, ways of life, and the place they call home.
This stems from the cordial man’s tendency to put his home and family first,
while the needs of the community take a backseat. It’s these additional layers
that fuel the passion of futbol in Brazil, creating an atmosphere that isn’t
matched anywhere else in the world, much less the United States.
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| Photo with two Corinthian players we met at the Curitiba Airport |
We had the opportunity to see this passion first hand at a
Curitiba FC match this past Sunday in Curitiba. While we sat in the area of the
stadium meant primarily for family and casual fans, but even in this section
everyone knew every chant, and we would still hear the occasional insult aimed
at the Flamengo’s keeper. The die-hard fan section was to our left, and was
truly the heart of the stadium. There were beating drums, 20 foot-tall waving
flags, and giant banners/flags that draped from the top row all the way down to
field-level. You could sense that these fans live and die with their team, and
were not too pleased to see Curitiba lose 2-0.
In the case of the national team, the idea of the cordial
man can be seen in the team’s style of play. Unlike European clubs, who use a
more strategic game plan to gain an advantage, Brazil relies heavily on the raw
talent of players to overpower opponents. While strategy is still involved, the
Brazilian’s largely rely on their own feel, and instincts of the game
throughout the match. This is related to the cordial man’s philosophy of
refusing to hide his inhibitions, and trusting his own feelings to guide his
actions. Brazilian players are less worried about adhering to every strategy
and rule guideline but instead trust their own natural abilities and playmaking
styles to dominate the competition. This often works, as some of the world’s
most talented players of all time (Pele, Ronaldo, Ronalinho, and today, Neymar)
have led Brazil’s teams throughout history.
Overall, the idea of the cordial man is still prevalent
throughout Brazilian culture today, and can be seen in futbol across all
levels. Players rely on intuition and talent rather than strategy and rolls,
adhering to the cordial man’s philosophy of putting himself and his close
companions above the needs of society, as well as the idea of refusing to hide
his inhibitions. Fans are incredibly passionate about their teams, more so than
anywhere else in the world, which can be connected to the theme of family and a
loyalty to a specific area to call home. Futbol matches are much more than a
simple game between two clubs, but a battle between ideologies and cultures
that in many ways has impacts far deeper than a win.
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