Brazilian football has flourished despite political corruption, military dictatorships, high poverty, a rampant drug trade, even the whitening of black players in a bygone age. At the start of the World Cup Brazil's halo was bent out of shape with numerous protests around the cost of the tournament, the unrealistic schedule for the teams, the lack of a good Brazilian striker... but football weathered the storm. Until Brazil reached the semi finals and Brazil defensively imploded under the pressure to lose 7 1! The fall from grace. All my life Brazilian football has been viewed as transcendental; from the 98's Brazil Squad's infamous Nike Advert, to the football archive shows highlighting the genius of Pele. No one played like Brazil. Commentators describe them as fearless, playing to party and leaving the defense at home. These myths we have built up about Brazil have clearly been untrue for many years but last night will be remembered as the day Brazil fell to earth and were exposed to be as fragile as any other football team. I wonder when I read this in thirty years time if i will have forgotten everything we used to admire about Brazil as all achievements will have been eclipsed by just one game...
Match in A Sentence: Germany 7 Brazil 1
Thomas Muller 13th minute, Miroslav Klose 23rd minute, Toni Kroos 24th and 26th minute, Sami Khedira 29th minute, Andre Schurrle 69th and 79th minute, not forgetting Oscar 90th minute, don't think any other incident is worth mentioning.
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Don't Give Up the Language.... Juninho is Confused Unich
At half time the BBC cut from the studio to interview retired Brazilian footballer and once Middlesbrough legend, Juninho from inside the stadium. Brazil conceding five goals in the space of sixteen minutes did mean Juninho could not be his arrogantly assured self. Often Juninho does appear disinterested but its laughed off due to his football heritage. Now Juninho had been neutered, had all his footballs put in a box, with an expression of a man who has just discovered he is a eunuch. Juninho's poor English has been compared to that of Fabio Cannavaro on ITV, who once said at half time of a Croatian defender "he should of gone somewhere but ended up nowhere." However Cannavarro can make incomprehensible English sentences sound poetic due to his football stature, Italian accent and soft manner. In contrast poor Juninho could not put into words, even in his mother tongue, how he was feeling about the historic score let alone translate them into English. His eyes were intensely concentrating on understanding the interviewer but at the same time he appeared completely lost. So lost you wanted the BBC to make an announcement over the stadium Tannoy stating "can any parent who has lost a Brazilian eunuch please come to the front desk...he needs to be taken home immediately."
Man Crush of The Day: Manuel Neuer
Its a love that dare not speak its name! The love for a German goalkeeper. I have had many an embarrassing crush in the past; Oliver Kahn, Jens Lehman and now Manuel Neuer. Neuer even means Newer when translated into English so its destined to be. To be honest Neuer seems to be redefining the goal keeper roll with his electric runs outside the area, leading German commentators to call him the best sweeper since Franz Beckenbauer. Maybe our love will be allowed to blossom out in the open as Neuer creates a newer position on the field, the goal sweeper, tactically redefining how footballer's defend and escape from the stigma of the goalkeeper. Under this new footballing guise we can marry and apply for British citizenship so my friends and family will finally accept us or he could just win the World Cup and then no one's complaining.
So we are done with the World Cup Predictor, no needless statistics, moral judgement or ill informed opinion. The final three games are historic by definition so we don't need some alternative angle to stimulate my intellect.So after such a momentous game last night we can only hope for a contest tonight. Personally I would love a Germany VS Messi final but not as much as i would love someone to wipe off the smug faces that populate the Dutch side and their butt head of a manager. Anyone undecided on Van Gaal please see below..
