"The Brazilian game has become synonymous with excellence, success and beautiful, irresistible football ... But few realise that the most crucial transformations undergone by Brazilian football came as a direct result of the Seleçāo's failures ... [This] looks at six crucial World Cup campaigns that radically altered the face of Brazilian football and which had repercussions far beyond the sport. Beyond the ignominy lurk narratives of racism, corruption, authoritarianism, corporate power and greed"--Publisher's description.