Brazil stars booed as Cup reaches climax
Print Edition
THE World Cup was set to end yesterday with a marquee match-up, Argentina against Germany, but Brazil’s miserable campaign ended in a chorus of boos on Saturday as the host slumped to a 0-3 defeat against the Netherlands in the third-place playoff match.
As the winning captain, either Argentina forward Lionel Messi or Germany defender Philipp Lahm will hold aloft the most recognized trophy in sports in front of 74,000 spectators at the Maracana Stadium, the world-famous football venue nestled among Rio de Janeiro’s hills, highrises and favelas.
But for home fans the 32-day tournament ended a day early and in more misery as a penalty from Robin van Persie and a Daley Blind strike saw the Dutch take a 2-0 lead after only 17 minutes. This followed the team’s humiliating 1-7 semifinal rout by Germany.
Hopelessly exposed
Once again Brazil’s defense was hopelessly exposed, with the first Dutch goal coming after just 90 seconds when van Persie sent Arjen Robben racing in behind the defenders.
Thiago Silva, one of six changes made by under-fire coach Luiz Felipe Scolari in a bid to fix a frail backline, tugged the Bayern Munich star over and although the foul began outside the penalty area, Algerian referee Djamel Haimoudi pointed to the spot. Silva meanwhile was lucky to escape with only a yellow card.
Brazil’s defense was scattered once more in the 17th minute.
Daryl Janmaat crossed from the right and David Luiz’s poor headed clearance fell to Blind who finished for his first international goal.
Georginio Wijnaldum added a late third for the Dutch to trigger more jeers and catcalls for the host.
The defeat marks the first time since 1974 that Brazil has lost consecutive World Cup matches and is also the first time that Brazil has suffered back-to-back defeats on home soil since 1940.
“I don’t think we deserved for it to end like this,” captain Silva said in a televised interview. “We need to apologize to the fans, they booed us at the end, which is normal, they have feelings, too. It’s very tough.”
Scolari, whose contract was to be reviewed at the end of the World Cup, refused to discuss his future.
“It is up to the president (of the Brazilian Football Confederation) to decide. We will hand in a final report and then leave it to him to analyze what needs to be done,” said Scolari.
“I’m not going to discuss (my future) with you. Winning or losing, that is what we would have done.”
The defeat comes with Brazilian fans already dreading the nightmare scenario of Argentina lifting its third World Cup.
Germany went into yesterday’s match as a favorite to win its fourth Cup. But Argentine captain Lionel Messi, four time world player of the year, will be looking for his first World Cup title.
A European country has never won the World Cup tournament held in the Americas.
Saturday’s result meant that Louis van Gaal’s team became the first Netherlands side to complete a World Cup undefeated in normal and extra time as the coach signed off from his final match in charge before taking over at Manchester United with a victory.
“And as far as the tournament is concerned 15 goals in seven matches and four conceded, I think we can look back on a very successful tournament and I am proud of my players and my staff,” van Gaal said.
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