It's been a long time coming, but the veteran Palmeiras goalkeeper finally got the call and is now set to make his international debut at the Rio Games
After nearly two decades in the game, the call had never arrived. Fernando Prass had long accepted the fact that he’d never represent his country.
From Taffarel and Dida, and to Julio Cesar and current no.1 Alisson Becker, Brazil have had no shortage of top quality goalkeepers since Prass made his professional debut back in 1998.
At 37-years-old, it’s probably fair to say he’s in the form of his life as he continues to inspire a resurgent Palmeiras side which now sits top of the Brazilian first division after 13 matches.
But he didn’t even make previous Brazil coach Dunga’s preliminary list of 40 for last month’s Copa America.
He was not even in the discussions over the potential goalkeepers for the upcoming Rio Olympics, with Benfica’s Ederson having emerged as first choice and, in the event that the Portuguese club refused to release him, Alisson was heavily tipped to step in as one of the Selecao’s three permitted overage players in Rio.
But last month, as new coach Rogerio Micale submitted a 35-man preliminary squad (which was not made public) to the Olympic committee, local media in Brazil began reporting a shock inclusion.
And last week, when the list was cut from 35 to the final 18, the fairy-tale was confirmed. Two weeks short of his 38th birthday, Fernando Prass was named as the man to safeguard Brazil’s Olympic obsession.
While the world’s media looked on curiously, local commentators welcomed the decision, insisting his experience, nerve, enthusiasm and fine form that has seen him concede just 13 goals in 13 matches, make him the perfect choice for one of the most pressured roles in world football this August.
"Prass is the captain of his team, a leader in the dressing room and is currently having a great season with his club," Micale told a press conference.
“He has experience, technical quality and the profile of a leader. He wants to win all the time and that is what we need."
A cool head and an articulate speaker, Prass has become a statesmen of the Brazilian game, taking an active role in the Bom Senso FC movement, a collective of current and ex-players working to improve the state of the national game at all levels.
Fernando Prass began his career at Gremio in 1998, but at one stage didn’t even think he’d make that far. Operations on both knees saw him spend almost a year on the sidelines during his rise through the youth ranks in Porto Alegre.
Injuries weren’t the only thing he had to overcome, however. He would also need a change of image after then coach Celso Roth insisted he grew his hair, suggesting his ‘crazed’ shaven-headed appearance didn’t radiate the sort of security offered by the more well-groomed Danrlei.
Prass conformed, but spent just a year in the senior ranks of the club before heading off to join Francana in Sao Paulo and then truly found his feet at Vila Nova.
A string of impressive performances earned him a transfer to Coritiba where he quickly became something of a club legend, inspiring them to a local state championship in 2004. By then Brazilian football was feeling the full force of globalisation and so, like so many of his contemporaries, Prass headed for Europe.
His destination was Portugal, penning a deal with Uniao Leiria in 2005 to replace Brazil international Helton who had jumped ship to FC Porto.
It had looked set to be the first step of a rise through the European leagues, but a prospective move to Bayer Levekusen in Germany never came to pass. “Everyone spoke of Italy, Spain, but I always wanted to play in Germany,” Prass told Globo. “I really like their attitude.”
The discipline and focus from the Germans had to be witnessed from afar, but his four years in Portugal was largely time well spent and helped set him on a path of professionalism that has been so vital to the Indian summer he is now enjoying back home.
He returned from the old continent in 2009 to join Vasco and led them back from the second division. In 2011 he helped the club to the Copa do Brasil and was voted into the Brazilian team of the year alongside the likes of Ronaldinho and Neymar.
It was there that he spent time alongside veteran midfielders Juninho Pernambucano and Ze Roberto, who he admits helped him realise the importance of taking care of his body. Prass turned away from fats and sugar to embrace the sort of healthy living that has allowed him to continue to play at the highest level while racing towards his 40th birthday.
After three years with the Rio club he returned to Sao Paulo to join Palmeiras, once again taking on a ‘recovery project’ after the club had fallen from the top flight. And it was there that he established himself as a penalty-saving specialist.
He led the club to an instant return to the Brasileirao and has since stopped 10 penalties for the Verdao, his first major heroics arriving at a packed Arena Corinthians when he saved two spot-kicks in the semi-finals of the Paulista State Championships to send Palmeiras to the final.
They lost that final to Santos but Prass had his revenge months later when he faced them again in the Copa do Brasil final and not only saved one but stepped up to score the winning kick.
All the while he was taking increasing responsibility for the group, establishing himself as a leader of men. His experience and guidance this year has been vital to the early title charge of a young squad featuring the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Dudu and Roger Guedes.
Cuca’s talented, attacking side has earned plaudits across the country and are now among the favourites for what will be a long overdue title – even Prass wasn’t playing when Palmeiras last won a national league championship, in 1994.
Next month he will become by far the oldest player to represent Brazil at the Olympic Games, a full six years older than current record-holder Bebeto who went to Atalanta 1996 at 32-years-old.
He’ll be twice the age of teenage sensation and now club-and international-mate Gabriel Jesus. And with Micale yet to meet Neymar in person, there are suggestions in the local media that Prass will captain the side in Rio.
“It’s come a little late, but it’s a deserved reward,” said Palmeiras coach Cuca. It was one nobody thought he would come. But it did. Now Fernando Prass stands on the verge of history. And, win or lose, few will stand taller at the Rio Olympics.
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- Goal