The boy from Brazil

By Marcus Christenson and Luke Gosset

German football is often portrayed as the antithesis of Brazilian football. The South Americans pride themselves on playing the game with flair while the Europeans are often accused of taking a more pragmatic approach.

Success story
Yet one of this season's success stories comes from Germany, where Brazilian striker Ailton has scored 16 goals in 16 games to propel SV Werder Bremen to the top of the Bundesliga. His secret? To mix the best characteristics of the two styles of play. "I like German football but I have retained my Brazilian approach," the 30-year-old told uefa.com in an exclusive interview.

Team effort
Certainly, his fine form - and that of his team - have not surprised Ailton. "I have always had confidence in myself," he said. "I believed that when the team started to play well, it would be easier for me. When the team are playing good football, it means I am in the positions I need to be in to score goals. What helps is that the team have excellent players and they know each other better now."

'We have a good chance'
But can Bremen keep their run going? Ailton insisted: "If the team manage to play as well as we did last year, we have a good chance of going a long way towards achieving our objectives which would be winning the Bundesliga or at least securing a [UEFA] Champions League spot."

Focused on Bremen
Ailton will not play in the Champions League for Bremen, however, as he has already agreed to join FC Schalke 04 in the summer. However, his focus remains on Bremen. "The one thing has nothing to do with the other," he said. "I am not thinking about Schalke - I am only thinking about Bremen. I am only going to think about Schalke when I am there. Right now I am a Werder Bremen player."

Ailton for Germany?
That is not the only switch Ailton has been linked with, though. Recent reports suggested that he was considering taking German nationality and playing for the team that Brazil beat to the 2002 FIFA World Cup. But Ailton is quick to rule out any such move.

Loyal to Brazil
"That was just a joke of mine and a journalist turned it into something more serious," he said. "I do not see myself in the shirt of the German team. They already have good players and do not need me. It is not something that has even crossed my mind." Indeed, when asked if playing for Brazil had crossed his mind, Ailton confessed: "It has not just crossed my mind - it is on my mind every day."

Cultural difference
As a German-based Brazilian, Ailton is well placed to sum up the difference between the footballing cultures. He explained: "Here things are done more seriously and correctly, which is not the way it is in Brazil where there is no organisation and players are not respected by club directors. It means that Brazilian players increasingly want to leave the country to play in Europe."

Happy with his lot
He added: "The Brazilian player is also completely different to the German version. German football is harder and more physical while in Brazil we play a 'happier' kind of game." So which does he prefer? "Well, I am Brazilian!" Ailton said. "I have Brazilian traits even though I play in Germany. I like German football - and have done since I have been here. I intend to stay here a long time, but retaining my Brazilian approach."