jcmartins
06 Sep 2005, 07:37 PM
Can he become the best in the world? let's see why he's even considered, shall we?
First off he is an excellent ball maintainer and surprises (not as much as he used to) every defensive side with his skills.
By looks one could never tell those legs had such agility, and with a body in the form of a bull, he dances through international defenses as if playing in the streets with other kids. His runs and jumps leaves every defender astounded, inside the area he defies gravity and for seconds, every now and again, it looks as if he was suspended and placed in the right place to volley an incoming ball into the net. A quality that is extremely rare within Brazilian strikers. (We did have Dada, remember, maravilha?)
Adriano comes from the hood of Vila Humilde (humble Town), a favela in Rio de Janeiro. He used to hang around Leblon beach where flamengo trained and players like Zico scouted talents. Soon he was playing for Flamengo subdivisions and not long after he was called to represent the National Team Under-17.
That was 1999 and he won that U-17 World Cup in New Zealand, and a year later he made Flamengo's first team under coach Paulo Cesar Carpegiani. He left his mark on his debut helping Flamengo beat Sao Paulo 5-2 at their own territory.
A year later he would be called again, this time by the U-21 National Team. Now he helped the Selecao win the South American Championship in Ecuador.
He had his debut in the adult NT when Leao had a spell as manager, but soon was used again in the World Cup 2001 U-20 hosted by the Argentineans. This time the Brazilian youngsters were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Ghana. Yet Adriano took home the silver boot, with six goals scored and topped only by the Argentinean Saviola - who will face our Giant this afternoon, only this time playing for the Spanish team Sevilla - .
With a consistent performance he quickly grabbed the attention of big European Clubs and soon was sold to Inter by almost 20 Million Euros. He didn't fail to debut with class by nearly scoring within the first minutes and later in the game, again, leave his trademark strong freekick.
The Emperor, then 19, was loaned to Fiorentina where even under financial difficulties that affected everyone's performances, leaving the team in fourth division, the striker left six goals for the Italians to remember. Inter then sent him to Parma for about half the price they had bought him. For some reason the Milan managers couldn't foresee the players future and only after Hector Cupper lost his job, the club took seriously the decision of bringing him back, only to find out they would now have to pay an extra 16.5 million euros. They did but not without signing a contract that secured his presence until 2008.
That season Adriano scored nine goals in 13 games, and once his old Fiorentina boss Mancini arrived in Inter Adriano had his starting spot guaranteed, it would be him and Vieri up front, always, not a choice between the two as it had been up untill that moment.
That brings us to 2004, when Adriano took his jump to the stars. With The Brazilian coach Parreira, relieving all players from the main team during the Copa America, Adriano would have his chance to stage his qualities, which he would do with complete mastery.
Luiz Fabiano was quoted as the main star in that team, but Adriano soon left him in the shadows. It all started in the game against Costa Rica where Adriano scored a hat trick as Brazil routed the Ticos 4-1 earning a quarterfinal berth in the Championship. He sealed hi participation in the tournament with a last minute goal against Argentina. His goal would take the final to a penalty shootout where he would score his and later raise the trophy and the golden boot, with seven goals.
A year later history would be repeated, this time Ronaldo asked for relief from the confederations cup. Adriano, knowing how difficult it is to gain a starting spot in the national Team, would again take Brazil to the final and raise yet again, this time with Robinho, kaka, Ronaldinho, Cicinho and Gilberto, among others, the first place trophy. He would also be considered be best player of the tournament, and as if that wasn't enough; he again took home the golden boot award, this time with five goals.
His performance in these championships took Adriano's name to places he hadn't dreamed of, soon he was considered best striker in the world. At the tender age of 23 He has a strength in his leg and a quality to bypass defenders that I haven't seen in a long time. Ronaldo did it more gracefully, Dinho does it more beautifully, Zizou shows more class. But, when asking the question of who is the best striker today, Adriano is showing, game by game, Boot winner of Copa America, boot winner of confederations cup, 3 goals in his opening match this season, 2 goals in his last match for Inter before the confederations cup and finally another three goals against Chile yesterday... that Today, he's rising too fast to judge.
He already surpassed Ronaldo's goals tally for the Selecao in Parreira's era and shows no sign of stopping. The emperor currently has 20 goals since Parreira took over the selecao in 2003; Ronaldinho gaucho comes second with 14 and only then rests Ronaldo with 11.
Text from my opinions at GiantsofBrazil.com (http://www.giantsofbrasil.com)
If he keeps up can he or can't he become the best striker in the world?
First off he is an excellent ball maintainer and surprises (not as much as he used to) every defensive side with his skills.
By looks one could never tell those legs had such agility, and with a body in the form of a bull, he dances through international defenses as if playing in the streets with other kids. His runs and jumps leaves every defender astounded, inside the area he defies gravity and for seconds, every now and again, it looks as if he was suspended and placed in the right place to volley an incoming ball into the net. A quality that is extremely rare within Brazilian strikers. (We did have Dada, remember, maravilha?)
Adriano comes from the hood of Vila Humilde (humble Town), a favela in Rio de Janeiro. He used to hang around Leblon beach where flamengo trained and players like Zico scouted talents. Soon he was playing for Flamengo subdivisions and not long after he was called to represent the National Team Under-17.
That was 1999 and he won that U-17 World Cup in New Zealand, and a year later he made Flamengo's first team under coach Paulo Cesar Carpegiani. He left his mark on his debut helping Flamengo beat Sao Paulo 5-2 at their own territory.
A year later he would be called again, this time by the U-21 National Team. Now he helped the Selecao win the South American Championship in Ecuador.
He had his debut in the adult NT when Leao had a spell as manager, but soon was used again in the World Cup 2001 U-20 hosted by the Argentineans. This time the Brazilian youngsters were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Ghana. Yet Adriano took home the silver boot, with six goals scored and topped only by the Argentinean Saviola - who will face our Giant this afternoon, only this time playing for the Spanish team Sevilla - .
With a consistent performance he quickly grabbed the attention of big European Clubs and soon was sold to Inter by almost 20 Million Euros. He didn't fail to debut with class by nearly scoring within the first minutes and later in the game, again, leave his trademark strong freekick.
The Emperor, then 19, was loaned to Fiorentina where even under financial difficulties that affected everyone's performances, leaving the team in fourth division, the striker left six goals for the Italians to remember. Inter then sent him to Parma for about half the price they had bought him. For some reason the Milan managers couldn't foresee the players future and only after Hector Cupper lost his job, the club took seriously the decision of bringing him back, only to find out they would now have to pay an extra 16.5 million euros. They did but not without signing a contract that secured his presence until 2008.
That season Adriano scored nine goals in 13 games, and once his old Fiorentina boss Mancini arrived in Inter Adriano had his starting spot guaranteed, it would be him and Vieri up front, always, not a choice between the two as it had been up untill that moment.
That brings us to 2004, when Adriano took his jump to the stars. With The Brazilian coach Parreira, relieving all players from the main team during the Copa America, Adriano would have his chance to stage his qualities, which he would do with complete mastery.
Luiz Fabiano was quoted as the main star in that team, but Adriano soon left him in the shadows. It all started in the game against Costa Rica where Adriano scored a hat trick as Brazil routed the Ticos 4-1 earning a quarterfinal berth in the Championship. He sealed hi participation in the tournament with a last minute goal against Argentina. His goal would take the final to a penalty shootout where he would score his and later raise the trophy and the golden boot, with seven goals.
A year later history would be repeated, this time Ronaldo asked for relief from the confederations cup. Adriano, knowing how difficult it is to gain a starting spot in the national Team, would again take Brazil to the final and raise yet again, this time with Robinho, kaka, Ronaldinho, Cicinho and Gilberto, among others, the first place trophy. He would also be considered be best player of the tournament, and as if that wasn't enough; he again took home the golden boot award, this time with five goals.
His performance in these championships took Adriano's name to places he hadn't dreamed of, soon he was considered best striker in the world. At the tender age of 23 He has a strength in his leg and a quality to bypass defenders that I haven't seen in a long time. Ronaldo did it more gracefully, Dinho does it more beautifully, Zizou shows more class. But, when asking the question of who is the best striker today, Adriano is showing, game by game, Boot winner of Copa America, boot winner of confederations cup, 3 goals in his opening match this season, 2 goals in his last match for Inter before the confederations cup and finally another three goals against Chile yesterday... that Today, he's rising too fast to judge.
He already surpassed Ronaldo's goals tally for the Selecao in Parreira's era and shows no sign of stopping. The emperor currently has 20 goals since Parreira took over the selecao in 2003; Ronaldinho gaucho comes second with 14 and only then rests Ronaldo with 11.
Text from my opinions at GiantsofBrazil.com (http://www.giantsofbrasil.com)
If he keeps up can he or can't he become the best striker in the world?