THE World Cup has ended, 24 hours ahead of schedule – for Brazil. For the majority of football fans in this proud nation, it might as well have not started, back four weeks ago. With the aid of hindsight, all the street protests and heated opposition to the hosting of this edition of the World Cup, for the second time in Brazil, was justified after all. The protestors can all turn round and say: "I told you so!"
But even the most fiery anarchist from within their ranks would not have willed such humiliation on their country – finishing fourth in a tournament held in their own backyard, and, enduring the pain of watching your snooty neighbor lording it all over you.
Its like Malaysia hosting a Terrible Tweet Tournament and seeing a member of the Lee Hsien Loong’s cabinet – dripping with double degrees and top-class PhDs – thumping our best twits. (Sorry Bung M, I had to slip that in).
And what a humiliation for the Samba nation it has been – from the semi-final onwards.
For, right at the start, Brazil dazzled but only to deceive as their deficiencies were laid bare for all to see as the tournament progressed and entered the stage where there’s no hiding.
The nation’s president, one-time leftist guerilla Dilma Rousef gave a television interview and pinned blame on this parlous state to the exodus of Brazil's best players overseas early in their career.
But credit must go to the Dutch for showing putting great effort in ensuring they finished third in this outing. Dutch football is at a stage where the Spaniards were at one stage prior to their all-conquering run. Great team, wonderful resources, plenty of good skills but no World Cup to their name.
They (the Spaniards), languished and was the butt of Anglo-Saxon (read English) derision (the nation, which to this day harp on their lone 1966 London victory for bragging rights) until they embarked on the unprecedented consecutive trophy acquisition trail beginning with the 2008 Euros, the 2010 World Cup and the Euros again in 2012.
Perhaps they (the Dutch) failed to stop Argentina in the semi-finals because they peaked too soon. And what peaks of ecstasy they climbed at the start of the tournament – having the temerity to stomp all over defending champions Spain!
Against Costa Rica in the quarter-finals, so much was made of the tactical triumph of coach Louis van Gaal. The master tactician switched goalkeepers just in time to bring in extra inches as an unstoppable barrier during the penalty shootout against Costa Rica.
They could not repeat this feat in the penalty phase against Argentina as the extra inches of keeper Krull could not be brought on. The masterful coach had used up all his three substitutes in the 90 + 30 minutes of out-field playing time.
When it is all over bar the shouting, how will Brazilians regard their fate?
Injured star striker Neymar has already indicated that he wished his Barcelona mates – Messi and Mascherano well. He has told the world that he wanted for them to beat Germany in the final. The rest of his countrymen – sporting though Brazilians as a sporty nation are – would no doubt be praying a German steamroller crushing the Argentinians 8 -1! That way, their own 1 – 7 thrashing would be somewhat cushioned.
There’s still the small matter of the final to be played 24 hours from now. It was supposed to feature Brazil with Neymar and his mates lifting the trophy in the steamy cauldron of the Maracanna. Instead, the mercurial Argentinians will battle it out against the machine-like efficiency of the Germans. A South America against Europe clash as widely expected – unfortunately, with the Southern Hemisphere represented by the wrong flag.
The Germans – what can one say about the land that churns out BMWs, Mercedes, Porsches and – Boris Becker? You can trust them to deliver when the crunch comes, ever methodical, mechanically technical. It won’t come as a complete surprise if they lift the cup.
The Argentinians – think Messi and Maradona, and you’d think their players have tree trunks for thighs. It is said that their low-center of gravity (they are no taller than 5 foot 7 inches; that’s 1.69 meters in metric measure) make them impossibly unshakeable when shielding the ball.
So German metronomic efficiency versus incendiary Argentinian brilliance. It will be Sunday evening in the Maracanna but well before dawn here in Malaysia. Set your alarms as the action is bound to be worth waking up to catch the action at four for!
Razak Chik
Sun Jul 13 2014
Brazil supporters react after the World Cup third-place soccer match between Brazil and the Netherlands on Saturday where the latter won the match 3-0. - AP Photo/Hassan Ammar
Anwar beri penghormatan terakhir kepada mendiang Joseph Kurup
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim hari ini memberi penghormatan terakhir kepada mendiang Tan Sri Joseph Kurup di Wisma Fook Lu Siew di Kota Kinabalu.
Penghantar makanan, kanak-kanak dua tahun maut nahas jalan raya
Seorang wanita dan anaknya yang berusia dua tahun maut dalam nahas jalan raya membabitkan dua kenderaan di Kilometer 10.2 Jalan Batu Caves menghala ke Selayang, malam Jumaat.
Microsoft uji VASA, watak AI untuk panggilan video bebas kamera web
Microsoft Research memperlihatkan VASA iaitu sistem AI yang boleh menjana wajah manusia yang hiper-realistik berserta dengan emosi pada wajah.
Malaysia, Thailand tingkatkan kerjasama perangi jenayah rentas sempadan
Kerjasama itu telah dibincangkan ketika mesyuarat dua hala beliau dengan Timbalan Perdana Menteri merangkap Menteri Dalam Negeri Thailand Anutin Charnvirakul pada Khamis.
YouTube uji ciri 'tanya AI' untuk rumuskan video
Apabila butang Ask ditekan, beberapa dialog diberikan oleh chatbot dengan gambar profil seakan ikon Gemini.
Usaha cari bakat baharu golongan Orang Asli, luar bandar perlu dipergiat - Hannah
Kementerian Belia dan Sukan tidak sesekali akan meminggirkan kanak-kanak Orang Asli dan luar bandar dalam menyediakan peluang dan akses untuk bersukan.
Lelaki bakar diri di luar mahkamah perbicaraan Trump meninggal dunia
Maxwell Azzarello didakwa menuang cecair mudah terbakar pada tubuhnya sebelum melemparkan risalah teori konspirasi ke udara.
PKR Sabah minta PM tumpu ikhtiar noktah kemiskinan tegar, isu dokumentasi
Tumpuan kepada ikhtiar menoktahkan kemiskinan tegar dan isu dokumentasi rakyat antara tiga cadangan khusus diutarakan Majlis Pimpinan Negeri (MPN) PKR Sabah kepada Perdana Menteri.
Harga jualan maksimum benih padi sah program IBPS RM54, RM58
Harga jualan maksimum benih padi sah CL220 bagi program Insentif Benih Padi Sah (IBPS) ditetapkan pada kadar RM54 di peringkat pemborong dan RM58 di peringkat peruncit berkuat kuasa 15 April.
PN masih menunggu butiran memorandum mengenai peruntukan
Perikatan Nasional masih menunggu butiran memorandum persefahaman yang akan dikemukakan oleh Kerajaan Perpaduan selepas pertemuan antara kerajaan dan wakil Ahli Parlimen pembangkang baru baru ini.
Vinicius Junior menangis jawab isu penderaan perkauman
Penyerang sensasi Real Madrid, Vinicius Junior, menangis dalam sidang media selepas ditanya mengenai isu perkauman yang melibatkan dirinya.
12 maut akibat banjir, tanah runtuh di Brazil
Sekurang-kurangnya 12 orang terbunuh akibat banjir dan tanah runtuh berikutan hujan berterusan di Brazil, kata pegawai pada Ahad.
Euro 2024: Southgate positif di sebalik England tersungkur kepada Brazil
Gareth Southgate gembira dengan mutu persembahan England meskipun tewas kepada Brazil dalam perlawanan persahabatan.
Kes denggi meningkat di Brazil, cabar rancangan vaksinasi
Brazil disahkan mencapai satu juta kes demam denggi pada tahun 2024, dengan 214 kematian.
Kelayakan Olimpik: Brazil kandas, tidak layak ke Paris 2024
Brazil gagal melayakkan diri ke kejohanan bola sepak Olimpik lelaki selepas tewas 1-0 kepada Argentina.
Pantai Rio de Janeiro masih sesak meskipun kes denggi meningkat
Orang ramai dilihat hadir ke pantai Rio de Janeiro untuk mengambil bahagian dalam karnival jalanan yang dinanti-nantikan meskipun terdapat kebimbangan mengenai peningkatan kes demam denggi.
Masihkah ada dendam antara Neymar dan jurulatih baru Brazil?
Dorival Junior menggantikan Fernando Diniz yang menjadi pengurus interim sejak Julai 2023.
Malaysia dan Brazil tingkat kerjasama dalam isu utama global
Malaysia dan Brazil komited untuk meningkatkan penyelarasan dalam bidang kepentingan bersama menerusi dialog.
12 maut dalam nahas pesawat di Amazon Brazil
Sekurang-kurangnya 12 orang, termasuk seorang bayi, maut apabila pesawat ringan yang mereka naiki terhempas di negeri Acre di barat laut Brazil.
14 maut pesawat terhempas di Brazil
Mangsa terdiri daripada pelancong yang dalam perjalanan untuk menjalankan aktiviti memancing.