For all his domestic prowess, Serginho is best remembered for the 1982 World Cup, where many exuberant Brazilian attacks broke down at his clumsy feet. Adriano's call-up seemed premature, a belief confirmed when he stumbled through subsequent games for his club, Flamengo. And he had little time to make an impression when coming on as a late substitute against Colombia. But his mere presence was evidence of remarkable progress. A year earlier Adriano helped Brazil to victory in the World Under-17 Championship, even though he failed to score in an attack seen generally as the team's weak point.
Young players develop at different rates.
His threat in the air is now considerable, the result not only of his height but also of good technique. He has grown stronger in possession and his footwork is surprisingly nimble for a man of his size. It's helped me pick up experience. I'm more mature as a result. Nevertheless, he took time to adjust to being the star name in this year's South American Under-20 Championship.