Rio crowd may be toughest test for Brazil's qualifier

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"I think Brazilians are very demanding with their idols," writes Pelé in his autobiography. "Sometimes it is as if they are more concerned with pulling you down than building you up."

It is a danger that his successors on the Brazilian national team may have to confront on Wednesday night, when it takes on Ecuador in a World Cup qualifier, Brazil's first match in Rio's Maracanã stadium in seven years.

"I hope our supporters aren't too demanding at the start of the game," said midfielder Josué, after Brazil debuted in World Cup qualifying with a disappointing 0-0 draw at Colombia. "I hope they let us go about our business in the opening minutes and help us to our first victory of the campaign."

Josué's wary tone and fear of being booed is unmistakable -- and understandable. There is an explanation behind the fact that Brazil has grown apprehensive of playing in the Maracanã, or in São Paulo's Morumbí stadium.

Rio and São Paulo are the traditional centers of Brazilian soccer, where the crowds grew up on the likes of Pelé and Garrincha. When they get a chance to watch the national team they come out and support it -- but if the team fails to live up to their lofty expectations, they are often quick to lose patience, and become vicious in their expression of discontent.

The first time that Brazil was involved in the current marathon format of World Cup qualification -- with all 10 South American nations playing each other home and away -- was in the campaign to make it to Japan and South Korea in 2002.

On that occasion, all the countries had to nominate one city where they would stage all their home games. Brazil, in recognition of its size, was allowed to name two. Almost certainly thinking of the practicalities of getting their players back from Europe, where then as now almost the entire squad its based, they went with São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro -- choices it would soon regret.

In the Morumbí, the São Paulo crowd jeered its way through a 3-2 win over Ecuador. Then in Rio, the Maracanã crowd heaped derision on the team when only a disputed late penalty saved it from defeat against Uruguay.

After that match, then-coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo admitted to the press that the players were unhappy with the crowd's reaction, and were grumbling about wanting to play their home matches elsewhere.

Luxemburgo told them that they would have to get used to the pressure, because regulations had to be obeyed and there was no way that the venue for future matches could be changed.

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