What a week this has been for football; after the thoroughly
one-sided Brazil-Germany game delivered the biggest surprise in World
Cup history, the Argentina-Netherlands one maintained status quo by
showing what a semi-final is all about with a fine contest between two
evenly matched teams, who ended up cancelling each other out.
Furthermore,
last night’s third place game proved that the drubbing the Brazilians received was no fluke. This, perhaps,
is the worst Brazilian team ever. Last but not least, curtains will fall on the greatest show on earth in Rio tonight.
People watching football because it is the World Cup will tell you
the German-Brazil game was great. But, die-hard football aficionados
will know the Argentina-Dutch duel was better. Though goal-less, the
latter showed the finer aspects of the modern game – precision tackling,
close marking, lack of space, and a great tactical battle in which,
this time, the defenders trumped the scorers, with both Messi and Robben
– lethal weapons of their respective sides were kept on a leash by
their rival defenders.
Heroes from Argentina vs Netherlands match
In fact, this game turned out to be a showpiece on the art of
defending. Each time Ron Vlaar, the powerful Dutch centre half managed
to foil the clever darting runs of Messi and Co., Mascherano and
comrades responded with equally well-timed tackles that stifled the
usually electrifying counterattacks of the orange brigade. And thanks to
one such perfectly timed sliding tackle by Mascherano, Argentina are in
the final.
Mascerano’s last ditch challenge that denied Robben his moment of
glory, and the Dutch potential victory, was indeed a piece of beauty.
The way he read the move and his determination in pursuing the Dutchman
who was way ahead of him shows what a world class player he is and how
Barcelona have erred by employing him as a centre half instead of his
favoured role as a defensive, holding midfielder.
It indeed is a shame that while a performance of a striker is
celebrated because of the concept of a goal (as their performances
result in a goal), those of a defender is considered boring and even
negative in general.
Brazil lacked intention against Germany
It was a striking contrast to the unexpected goalfest that the
Brazil-Germany game turned out to be. This game was a clash of
philosophies – the emotional Brazilians against the professional Germans
– the heart against the mind – the dream versus the reality. The
Brazilians, with the backing of their overzealous fans dreamt of beating
Germany without really planning how to stop the German juggernaut.
Brazilians speak Portuguese and yet didn’t pay enough attention to
Portugal’s thrashing at the hands of Germany earlier in the tournament.
Portugal, as soon as they lost their talismanic defender, Pepe, to a
deserved red card, lost the plot and exposed themselves to the Germans,
resulting in a heavy defeat. The Brazilian situation was similar. They
knew Thiago Silva, their best defender, would not play and the pairing
of David Luiz and Dante, though seemingly appearing formidable on paper,
looked suspect. Both of them had two things in common – fuzzy hair and
the knack of switching off at times due to serious concentration lapses.
The problem with emotions is that they fluctuate. Thus, the high
expectations and high spirits of the Brazilians soon gave way to
hopelessness and despair as soon as the German blitzkrieg started.
Brazilian confidence demoted with each German goal. They were shocked
into inaction from the flurry of German goals. It is quite natural for
human beings to be shocked for something unexpected, but to completely
crumble under it is utter spinelessness. School kids can be forgiven for
being shocked into ineptitude, but professional footballers earning
millions for doing the same thing day in day out are not supposed to be.
The aftermath of Brazil’s annihilation by Germany
These two consecutive World Cup defeats, the first for Brazil in 74
years has irreparably damaged Brazil’s image as a great footballing
nation. It has permanently been etched into World Cup folklore. Brazil’s
pride has been dented forever. The additional loss to the Netherlands
in the third place game further cemented the belief that Brazil are
certainly not among the best in the world.
It’s a situation akin to Barcelona’s annihilation at the hands of
German giants Bayern Munich in last season’s Champions League
semi-finals. The Bavarians stripped Barcelona’s aura of invincibility
and signalled the end of Barcelona’s European dominance. Though here,
Brazil were no Barcelona and were not considered the team to beat, yet
playing in front of their home fans they were expected to put up a
fighting performance at least, and as Maradona had said before the
match, ‘be ready to die on the pitch.’ But, they ended up crying on the
pitch.
In fact, this game was quite ominous for Brazil. They had been poor
throughout the tournament with subpar performances, saved at times by
the individual brilliance of a Neymar, Thiago Silva or Julio Ceasar or
referees overwhelmingly giving decisions in their favour because of
their privilege of being the hosts. Hence, when they lost couple of key
players, an accident was waiting to happen and surely it did. While most
watching last week’s Brazilian annihilation at the hands of the Germans
were either shaking their heads with disbelief or stunned into silence,
I was smiling. Not that I’m a German fan or someone who enjoys watching
Brazil lose, but that I knew it wasn’t possible to ride your luck all
the time.
What to expect from Germany vs Argentina
Meanwhile, as the clocks ticks down towards the climax of the World
Cup final tonight, the focus shifts towards Germany and Argentina. It is
hard to bet against the Germans. Though, Argentina have Messi, and the
meanest defence among all teams, having just conceded three goals in the
tournament hitherto. Yet, their recent record against the Germans is
not encouraging, having been knocked out of the last two World Cups by
them, which includes the 4-0 thrashing in South Africa in 2010. In
addition, the last time Argentina made it to the final, it was Germany
again, who send them home as losers.
However, the Argentineans can take draw confidence from the fact that
their last World Cup glory too came against the Germans, whom they beat
in the 1986 final, led by a man called Maradona, who would then go on
to become the most popular player in the world for years (or forever
perhaps). Another good omen for Argentina is that in 1986, they beat
Belgium en route to the final (in the semi-finals), and the
Argentinean’s have already done away with the Belgians earlier in the
quarterfinals.
Finally, there’s this widespread belief in footballing and media
circles around the world about Messi emulating Maradona by guiding
Argentina to a third World Cup and in the process fortify his place
among the pantheons of World Cup legends such as Pele and Maradona. The
World Cup is the only notable trophy missing from Messi’s cabinet and he
can really be Argentina’s Messi-ah if he helps them win the coveted
trophy.
Originally published on Sportskeeda.com here
