But Brazil didn't when it was organized there in 1950. It won 5 since then and there have been manifestations of the seleçao that looked out of this world but still didn't lift the trophy. That is to say it's kind of difficult to predict how a match will go. At least for mere mortals.
But not for Felipe Scolari who for example was hoping that Chile would not qualify for the World Cup because they have always been tough opponents. It appears to be a surprising statement until you watch the two sides play. So there are teams which seem to be naturally predisposed to give you a lot of trouble because of the size of the players, the game they play, the quality of passes, the discipline level and what not.
So when the auriverde meet the mannschaft Wednesday 00h00 to try to clinch their ticket to play the finals at the Maracana in Rio we're best to look forward for an exciting match. Given that the Germans have finished third or better 11 times. As long as Brazil wins that is.
And then on Thursday we'll have a rematch of the 1978 final.
While waiting for that match to start, I snoozed off and I just had one of these wildly impossible dreams just now: Mannschaft leading Auriverde 5-0 with 60 mins to go. And then I woke up to see 6-0 with 20 mins to go: I really think that sleep deprivation is taking its toll on my sanity. Or my TV is broken.
ReplyDeleteLol! Very sloppy Brazil. The way the first goal went it gave us a pretty good idea of what was to come.
ReplyDeleteThis trouncing harks back to others in recent history, and is apparently due to happen again: you just need an opponent who starts sleeping for a couple of minutes...
ReplyDeleteGermany's success was started 10 years ago: building a team (apart from Neuer, no-one is indispensable in this team), with young talent regardless of their background.
ReplyDeleteAnd in the end, the better attack found the better of the airtight defense - as was always the case in this Mundial.
For those who like data: FIFA's match analyser, or Castrol index (pick the best player from any of the top 10, it's still NOT that overrated and bland Messi! Not even in the dream team), or these visual descriptions to show how Germany was superior to all physically...
ReplyDeleteIn any case, shifting fan loyalty is something only true football fans experience, not like this spoiled brat who spills his frustration in writing with his offensive value-judgements.
The best that we'll take is that goal-line technology is now ready for top-class performances.
Interesting castrol index. Although I'm not sure I would give Thiago Silva a higher rating than Rodrigues after his very silly yellow card playing probably a big role in Brazil missing the final after getting thrashed by Germany. More on this later. Hopefully.
ReplyDeleteDas Wunderkind is ill. Now it becomes clear why Klopp was not carrying him in his suitcase to Liverpool... Let's wish he makes full recovery.
ReplyDelete