Taffarel, a pioneer and hero in the penalty spot

It was not easy being a goalie in Brazil. In the land of goals, samba and dribbling impossible, decided by the gloves and try to avoid what happy meant the Brazilian bent rowing against the tide. But Claudio Taffarel, their strengths and weaknesses, changed the meaning of falling under the posts in a selection where large cracks are always the protagonists erected to show that the number one not only wears the costume parade. A good goalkeeper but was never great, but precursor in several respects and that will certainly paved the way for many compatriots chose the goal as his place in football.

Emerged from the quarry Internacional de Porto Alegre where he debuted at 18 in 1984, defend the goal from Inter for six seasons. In 1988 at Seoul Olympic Games, would come his first big break with the Canarinha in front a computer shared some youngsters called Romario and Bebeto. His big moment was waiting in the semifinals before Klinsmann's Germany. With the score 1-1, Taffarel stopped a penalty that helped force overtime. No goals in this, in the penalty shootout was erected again a hero by stopping two shots the Germans. Although in the end would be defeated by the Soviet Union, Seoul marked the beginning of a long and successful career with the Brazilian team.

Two years later he played the World Cup where Brazil Italia'90 did not go round. He was the first and least successful of the three who would dispute. After the finals he transferred to Parma, becoming the first foreign goalkeeper to defend the goal of an Italian team. It was a German, one Russian and one Spanish, was a Brazilian. The reasons are easily understood if we consider that Italy has always been the cradle of great goalkeepers and then only allowed three foreigners per team, and to employ a place in a doorman did not seem a good idea. However, Parmalat wanted to expand its empire in South America and Taffarel was then a goalkeeper with great prospects. So, stay three seasons with Parma, winning a UEFA and became an idol of the fans.

93/94 season after playing in the World Cup would Reggina U.S., which marked the peak of his career. In that world also became fashionable to play with short sleeves, something very strange time in a goalkeeper. Despite being discussed for the post Zetti, Taffarel was the owner and fulfilled his role until the final against Italy would again be the hero of the selection because, again, on penalties . Scoreless for 120 minutes, the batch of penalties, that's where the goalkeeper may have their moment of glory, which would again settle the winner and the fourth pitch, the work of Massaro AC Milan would be guessed from the Brazilian goalkeeper. The penalty set by Dunga and the error of Baggio would do the rest. Brazil was world champion 24 years later.

Turned from hero to villain in Italy after the penalty Massaro arrested, he returned to Brazil to defend the goal from Atletico Mineiro for four seasons until the World Cup in France where he would again figure again in the shootout. It was in the semifinals against the Netherlands, who had seen the end of the regular time to tie a bit. Again the penalty spot goalkeeper smiled and so stopped the Canarinha launches Cocu and Ronald de Boer. Brazil was in the final where France would be defeated by Zidane. Despite conceding three goals in the last game and being runner-Taffarel was undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers in the tournament.

Thus, Europe was set back in it and was hired by the emerging where Galatasaray Hagi and Popescu were figures. His best moment was in the final of the UEFA in 2000 to Arsenal for Henry, Bergkamp and Suker, where he was voted best player in the first European tournament won by all Turkish. That final was also decided in a penalty shootout, however, were the sticks that prevented the British release, andTaffarel was given for stopping everything that came to the Ottoman goal in regulation time.

In 2001 he returned to Parma, where the Frenchman would stand Frey. Spent two seasons until the Empoli is interested in his services. On the way to the headquarters of the Italian club to sign his contract, Taffarel suffered a traffic accident with no physical consequences ... because the Brazilian goalkeeper, true believer in the divine destiny, interpreted this fact as a sign for not joining the team should Italian. Thus, Taffarel finally decided to hang up the gloves after 37 years to reflect on this circumstance. Empoli say that they were surprised is an understatement.

Taffarel Today, with 101 caps in its history, is representative of young talent and scout for the selection, these days in Brazil finally has good goalkeepers like Julius Caesar, and Diego Alves Gomes. We do not know for sure what percentage of relevant it is in this race Taffarel, but what is certain is that few children would be aficionarían to gloves to see the exploits of former Parma goalkeeper, who opened the way to his countrymen in European football. Before it was difficult to be a goalkeeper in Brazil, today is not so.