Posted on 07/09/2014 1:49:44 AM PDT by nickcarraway
The morning after the night before, Brazil will wake up, shake its head and pray it had all been a terrible nightmare.
Left disorientated, punch drunk and confused by the 7-1 annihilation in the Estádio Mineirão it will take time for the full implications to sink in for a country that had so much invested – in all senses of the word – in World Cup success.
The newspapers, broadcasters and websites that had spent the last few days whipping up a sentimental tidal wave of sympathy for Neymar turned on Luiz Felipe Scolari’s men.
David Luiz, the capering heartbeat of this side and its second most popular player after the stricken No10, was now the tear stained villain.
The Mineiraco, as it is already being called in an echo of the deep impact of the 1950 Maracanazo when Uruguay defeated Brazil in the final the last time the tournament was held here, was variously described as “the disgrace of all disgraces” and “a historic humiliation”. Sports paper Lance called it “the biggest shame in history”.
The previous day there had been even bigger tailbacks than usual in São Paulo as Brazilians rushed home to ensure they were in front of a television set. By 5pm, the streets were eerily silent in Brazil’s biggest city. What was to follow was equally unsettling.
The effects will be wide ranging, for a whole host of reasons – political, economic and cultural – in a country where, despite everything, football remains so closely bound up with national identity.
For president, Dilma Rousseff, who found herself the target of obscene chants that had not been heard inside World Cup grounds since the São Paulo opener, the result could have an impact on her re-election prospects in October.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
“If it winds up being Argentina verses Brazil blood will flow”
I’ll be cheering on Argentina!!! Brazil has won so often give Argentina a chance for glory
“If Brazil should lose that game to Argentina I’m thinking their coach oughta get out of the country before the game is over, lol!”
He’d probably be better off doing that now...
“Why do they have the third place game? Do any of the teams want it?”
Sure; it is the equivalent of a bronze medal in the Olympics.
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