The above picture tells us a lot. The entire Brazilians nation including its billions of fans across the world was silenced by the avalanche of German Goals, the German Tsunami sweeping away Selecao soccer pride. The shell shocked Brazilians could not have it in the wildest of dream that their HEXA hopes would be blown and swept away insuch a destructive manner. When the period of shock will be over there will be definite stock taking and post mortem of the annihilation. Experts will make objective analysis. What really went wrong? Why Brazil feel like a pack of cards?
Brazil was among the pre-tournament top favorites and being the host they were even thought to have an edge even among the favorites. In the 5 matches leading to the semifinal Brazil though not convincingly looking as champion potential team yet were definitely not giving such feeling that it will be overwhelmed like what happened yesterday .Let us try to have an honest objective analysis?
How Much Neymar –Silva Absence Mattered?
True that young Neymar was the kingpin and the driving force of the team in 5 matches he played. The attacks of team were very much revolving around him. His absence had some impact. But it is unacceptable that a team like Brazil would not have enough in reserve to replace one player if he becomes unavailable. For arguments sake let us say Neymar could score an early goal in the first 5-6 minutes when Brazil made a positive start and was looking good. But could that bring much of a difference? He was replaced by untested Bernard who was a totally misfit and did not fire. Fred, Oscar and Hulk were expected to raise their game to compensate for Neymar.
That also did not happen. Rather Brazil had to pay very heavily for starting aggressively without assessing the actual strength of the new combination. They rather fell into the German trap of opening up the game too early allowing huge open space in the midfield for Germany Engineering counter attacks with opportunist fleet footed Thomas Mueller and Miroslav Klose. The new combination of Brazilian center defence Dante and David Luiz looked completely ragged. No man marking, no planning, no effective tackling. The German goal hunters were lurking freely. Once flood gate was opened through a Thomas Mueller Goal, his fifth, the Germans ran riot. Four more goals were added in 6 minutes blitz from 23 rd to 29 th minute of the first half during which Brazil defence was completely rattled and bewildered. Why with untested defence Brazil did not start a bit sedately giving more time to defence to organize and settle down?
What midfield was doing during the entire period when Germans were maneuvering almost unchallenged in Brazil territory? This match more than evidenced of inadequacy of Brazilian team and justified the criticism Brazilian star players of the past made for not selecting experienced players like Kaka, Robinho, Pato and Ronaldinho.
Experience definitely counts in such a major event where one team has to play 7 games consistently well to win the championship. Brazil defence was clueless, ragged and out of wits, front line lacked firepower and imagination and mid field was all over the places.
Why Germans Prevailed?
Germans on the other hand were patient. They allowed Brazil to come at them and make the game open. Enough space was created for their mid field to occupy rival territory. German midfield could freely maneuver and engineer attacks after attacks as they pleased. They seized untested Brazil central defence through rapid fired counter attacks and caught them napping. Once the first goal was scored through school boy like silly mistake, Brazil defence looked shaky and nervy. Opportunist German attack exploited the situation scoring 5 goals in quick line. Cannot understand why Scholari did not assess correctly of the depleted strength of his charge after Silva and Neymer were ruled out of the match? What happened to Danny Alvez? Why he was not on show? Oscar might have been useful in Confederation cup in teaming up with Fred and Neymar. But in this world cup Oscar and Fred could not do justice to their name.
7-1 margin defeat is huge and unimaginable for a Brazil team in any match anywhere. It is unkind to the Brazilians who worship football. Brazilians were contesting and violently protesting against billions dollars expenditures for the world cup when Brazilian children were not getting proper education; proper health care was not available. Only the world cup victory could make people accept all these pains and agonies. Now with the world Cup disaster it will definitely impact on upcoming election as well.
Coming back to the reasons behind such a shocking performance we may conclude that the team had no match plan or Germans did not let them execute the plan, the team really did not have enough quality and depth and team possibly lost focus and composure concentrating too much on Neymar injury.
The deep heart sore the humiliation has left behind will take a long time to heal. Brazil will definitely not the same again soon. If Brazilian fans could create “Ashes” like thing as English Fan did after losing a cricket series to Australia this is possibly the right occasion. Creation of Football “Ashes” for bilateral football matches between Germany and Brazil.
BDST: 1018 HRS, JUL 09, 2014
