Dribbling the Cameraman

"The Brazilian team scored an incredible goal, with the Costa Rican defenders offering no resistance. Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and Kaká dominated the match. Brazil's journey in the qualifiers was not smooth, and they were not considered the biggest favorites in this World Cup. However, now in the third round of the group stage, they have already scored eight goals, a formidable attacking force that ranks among the best in the tournament. Other teams need to be cautious."

"At thirty years old, Rivaldo, twenty-five-year-old Ronaldo, twenty-two-year-old Ronaldinho, and twenty-year-old Kaká, Brazil boasts the most well-balanced age structure in their attacking line. More terrifyingly, each of them possesses the ability to create chances and finish games..."

The fans who came to watch Brazil's match didn't expect to see any brilliant tactical play; they came for the star players' individual performances. Ronaldo and Kaká undoubtedly catered to this mentality, and most neutral fans subconsciously became their supporters, inadvertently gaining a new batch of fans for the Brazilian team.

The legendary conversion of passers-by into fans.

As for the ability to gain fans... it's not just about ability but also about appearance. Kaká and Ronaldo... Ronaldo is quite cute, but cuteness pales in comparison to handsomeness.

So whenever Kaká had the ball, it would elicit a chorus of screams, almost making the Costa Ricans feel like they were playing an away game.

In this atmosphere, the Brazilians naturally played with even more flair, repeatedly threatening the Costa Rican goal but narrowly missing each time.

Kaká, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, and Ronaldinho took turns shooting, but their efforts were either too high or too wide. The most accurate attempt came from the ever-eager Cafu, but it went straight into the goalkeeper's arms.

An unwritten rule in football: missing chances invites punishment.

After Ronaldo's shot from a tight angle went wide, Costa Rican goalkeeper Lonis quickly took a goal kick.

The ball sailed over Gilberto Silva's head and was collected by a Costa Rican midfielder, who quickly played it forward.

Costa Rican striker Wanchope received the ball and played a one-two with his teammate Wright, bypassing the Brazilian defenders with two passes before shooting from the right side of the penalty area.

The ball deflected off Ceni and into the net.

2-1.

"GOAL! Praise Costa Rica! They didn't let this match become a one-sided exhibition but fought back tenaciously! When everyone thought Brazil would easily steamroll them, when everyone believed they could only qualify through ugly defense, they responded with a brilliant goal. The Brazilians need to wake up; this is the World Cup stage, not a beach soccer field in Rio de Janeiro. They must stay focused..."

Costa Rica's morale soared, while Brazil's fans were stunned.

Despite appearing overwhelmed, Brazil now led by only one goal.

Scolari could no longer remain calm.

Although qualification was already secured, he still hoped his players would approach this match with their best form.

While the Costa Ricans celebrated their goal, Scolari called the captain, Cafu, to the sideline for a stern reprimand, but perhaps his fury was too intense, leaving Cafu dazed, as Brazil's defensive line became increasingly porous.

With Brazil's defense in disarray, Costa Rica immediately threatened their goal on multiple occasions.

In the 30th minute, Costa Rican defender Wright charged into Brazil's penalty area and narrowly missed a teammate's corner kick with a powerful header that sailed over the crossbar.

In the 31st minute, Costa Rican striker Gómez found a shooting opportunity in a 1-on-2 situation in front of Brazil's goal but sent his effort wide.

In the 34th minute, a cross from Costa Rica's left flank found Gómez unmarked in the center, but he couldn't control the ball properly, allowing Cafu to clear it off the line.

In a span of just a few minutes, Costa Rica squandered three chances.

The same adage applies to them: wasting too many chances will be punished.

This time, the one to hand out the punishment was Kaká.

In the final moments of the first half, Cafu carried the ball forward and played a long pass to Rivaldo, who couldn't find an opportunity and returned it to Ronaldo.

Ronaldo sought out Kaká for a one-two, but the ball didn't come back.

Ronaldo: (へ) Kaká, you fool.

Facing Ronaldo's pass, Kaká executed a Marseille turn, not just once but twice in succession, evading Wright and Wallace's interceptions, entering the penalty area to the astonished looks of the Costa Ricans.

Fearing Kaká's long-range shooting, Marín and Solís rushed towards him without hesitation, but Kaká delayed his move, feinting a shot to dummy past Marín before shifting his body towards the goal, his long legs poised for a strike.

Solís hastily stretched out his leg, but Kaká simply flicked the ball past him with a deft touch.

Although the two feints were visually impressive, the process was somewhat drawn out, allowing Wright and Wallace to catch up and confront Kaká once more. However, Kaká again utilized a series of feints, dummying past both defenders.

The Costa Rican penalty area was in disarray.

The crowd in the stadium gasped in awe, while viewers at home leapt from their seats.

Amidst Kaká's flurry of feints, the television cameras somehow lost track of him...

Whenever Kaká prepared to shoot, the camera instinctively panned towards the goal, with the most egregious instance completely cutting him out of the frame.

The cameramen were on the verge of tears, their level of anguish rivaling that of a sign language interpreter's sidekick.

This great deceiver...

Goalkeeper Lonis rushed out but, wary of Kaká's feints, didn't commit to the save immediately. Instead, he steadied his stance, keeping his legs together and carefully tracking the ball at Kaká's feet.

"Kaká!" Ronaldo's voice called out.

He had already shaken off the defenders and was charging in, ready to tap into an empty net if the ball reached him.

Kaká glanced in his direction, and the defenders and goalkeeper's attention subconsciously followed his gaze.

Then, Kaká gently flicked the ball up with the inside of his foot.

The scene on the pitch suddenly took on a surreal quality.

Kaká stood there, spine straight and composed, as if casually strolling with his girlfriend, but his lower leg suddenly flicked up without any run-up...

As he shot, his head was still turned to the side, as if greeting a neighbor.

The ball arced in a rainbow trajectory, sailing over the crouching Lonis' head and into the net.

3-1.

Kaká strolled calmly to the sideline, raising both hands towards the sky in a subdued celebration.

Ibrahimović's deceptive shot for Ajax didn't happen until 2004, and Bebeto's iconic celebration didn't become famous until later in the Premier League, so many fans hadn't yet experienced the visual impact and exquisite beauty that emerges from the abrupt transition between stillness and motion.

And so, they went wild.

(End of chapter)