Brazil's reputation as a powerhouse in the world of soccer can be traced back to the 1950s. Initially, it was believed that this success was attributed to an ideal combination of climate, passion for the game and prevalence of poverty. However, the true reason behind Brazil's soccer prowess is rooted in the game of futsal, a high-speed indoor rendition of soccer, that rose to popularity in the 1930s.

Futsal was particularly loved in densely populated cities. Esteemed Brazilian players such as Pele, Zico and Ronaldinho all fine-tuned their abilities playing futsal during their childhood years. The fast-paced nature of futsal demands that players touch the ball often and make instant decisions within confined spaces. The involvement in these intense, real-life practice activities improves their skills dramatically.

Further on, an English coach named Simon Clifford applied this Brazilian secret to his own training regimen in Leeds and introduced a futsal-based program. This lead his young English players to victory against national teams, demonstrating that transferring futsal practices beyond Brazil could replicate their success. This example illustrates how deep, error-prone practice that compels problem-solving can expedite skill development in surprising ways.