Why Brazil hate altitude

Brazil’s lone vendetta against teams being able to play matches in their own capital cities has its roots in the following…

1993: The big one. Brazil, for the first time EVER, lose a World Cup qualifying match, in BOLIVIA of all places! Bolivia scored two goals in the last two minutes of the match to leave Brazil shell-shocked in La Paz. Brazil had gone twenty-three years since its last World Cup and this loss must have made it seem like they were never going to win it again. The boys in yellow were so angry they beat us 6-0 in the return, but no matter.

2001: Ecuador beat Brazil 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier in Quito – the first ever win by Ecuador over Brazil.

This win was the Ecuadorean equivalent of Bolivia’s win in 1993, setting the team off on great things and a first World Cup qualification. The match and its outcome became a symbol for both countries, ushering in Brazil’s annus horribilus of 2001, in which they would lose four qualifiers in Ecuador, Uruguay, Argentina and Bolivia (after losing to Paraguay and Chile the year before), would draw at home against Peru, would finish fourth in the Confederations Cup after losing to Japan, France and Australia, and would be knocked out of the Copa America by Honduras. You read that correctly.

The loss provoked a furious backlash in Brazil. 1970 hero Tostao was immediately moved to reason: Did Brazil go too far in their post-1982/6 push for greater efficiency? Had they given up their greatest weapon in their creativity to go into battle with the pure defensive weapons of their enemies? Would Brazilian commentator Galvao Bueno get over his humiliation from watching the Ecuadorean crowd chant “Olé” as Ecuador caressed the ball around in the closing minutes? Had Brazil’s once-elegant midfield been reduced to pure thuggery after witnessing Emerson’s crude attempts to end Ecuadorean Ivan Kaviedes’ career? If Ronaldo hadn’t pulled a few tricks a year later they would still be asking those questions.

2001: For the second time, a goalkeeper misjudgement costs Brazil defeat in a qualifier in La Paz, by 3 goals to 1. As the match was turning Bolivia’s way at 1-1 Brazil’s assistant coaches literally resorted to kneeling and praying on the sidelines while Scolari was bemused by being taken apart by Bolivia’s “five little dwarves up front.” Julio Baldivieso then scored the perfect goal, lofted from 40 meters out on the touchline over keeper Marcos’ head and into the far corner (à la Ronaldinho vs. England, but better). Would this wretched qualifying competition never end? Brazil asked. Meanwhile, La Paz’s Hernando Siles Stadium was solidifying its reputation as a Brazilian goalkeepers’ graveyard, both at club and international level. Still, coach Scolari forgave Marcos, saying that he had a right to make mistakes like anyone else. Marcos then single-handedly won the crucial game for Brazil against Belgium at WC 2002, with the help of a Jamaican referee’s whistle.

2002: Bolívar 5-5 Atletico Paranaense, 2002 Copa Libertadores. Some mysterious occurrences happen in La Paz: Brazilian side Paranaense let go of a 5-1 halftime lead (!) to wilt in the second half, probably something to do with the altitude. It ain’t easy. Bolívar tied the scores in injury time with a penalty kick.

2004: Ecuador fortuitously repeat their 1-0 win of four years ago. By now Brazil were again World Champions and with Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Kaka all at, approaching or just past career-best form, Brazil were now strolling – how different from three years beforehand. Still, the loss against the run of play would have been an annoying reminder of their previous visit to the mountains of Quito.

Any other altitude moments that Brazilian, Ecuadorean or Bolivian fans could fill me in on?