About Geology

In defence of Brazilian goalkeepers

This is perhaps not the perfect moment to speak well of Brazilian goalkeepers to an English audience - and it is for exactly that reason that I will attempt to mount a case for their defence. After all, when things are going well results speak for themselves and there is no need to cite mitigating circumstances.

It was hard not to feel sorry for Liverpool’s Diego Cavalieri at Tottenham last week. On his biggest opportunity to date he let one goal go in through his legs and, perhaps over-anxious to make amends, charged rashly out of his goal and gave another one away.

He was surely suffering from lack of playing time. Keepers need to be in rhythm in order to have a clear mind and sharp reflexes. Cavalieri, though, was signed to act as a back up. The same is not true of Heurelho Gomes, a big-money recruit at Tottenham who seems to be throwing away a silly goal per game.

When Dunga took over as Brazil coach after the last World Cup, Gomes was his keeper for the first four full internationals. He did little wrong, conceding just two goals, but he was quickly discarded. The coaching staff concluded that he was suspect on crosses and poor with the ball at his feet - both defects have cost goals at Tottenham. His first season in the Premier League is the classic case of a player’s flaws being found out when he steps up a level - and as a consequence his confidence has taken a pounding. Can he come through it?

Nearly five years ago, before he had moved to PSV in Holland, I wrote in World Soccer magazine that he had a tendency to flap at crosses. But I also noted that he was tall and athletic, capable of superb reflex saves. He has shown some of that at Tottenham as well, but the nature of the position means that he will only be remembered for his saves once the mistakes have been ironed out.

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Convincing Italian readers of the value of Brazilian goalkeepers is probably an easier task. A footballing culture known for its appreciation of good defence appears to have no qualms about entrusting its last line to a Brazilian.

Dida is no longer Milan’s first choice. But despite the odd embarrassing clanger he has given the club good service, and was one of Brazil’s few success stories in the last World Cup. He has now been replaced at international level by Julio Cesar of Inter Milan. I have to confess that I wasn’t at all sure about him when he was making his name in Brazil with Flamengo. He has proved me wrong with consistently excellent displays over the last few seasons, and is Brazil’s first choice on merit. His international back-up is Doni of Roma, a club who have two other Brazilian keepers on their books - and Serie A also features former Brazil Under-20 keeper Rubinho at Genoa.

Diego Alves became the first Brazilian to keep goal in Spain’s La Liga when he joined Almeria in 2007 and he managed to go a record 678 minutes without conceding a goal. He has now been joined in Spain by Renan, signed by Valencia after playing so well in the Olympics.

There is also the elastic Helton of Porto in Portugal, while back home there are other good keepers to be found. As well as the veterans Rogerio Ceni and Marcos, Fabio of Cruzeiro is a good keeper, Bruno of Flamengo and

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