Brazil: Missing You Already - Little Boy Blue's World Cup Diary

Last updated : 06 July 2010 By Little Boy Blue

Nobody can deny the merit of Holland's win on Friday but the knowledge that top stars like Kaka, Robinho and Luis Fabiano will have no further input to events in South Africa has taken the edge off the tournament for me.

 

It has always been this way.  I'm old enough to remember Pele being kicked off the park in 1966, I marveled at their super side which illuminated Mexico four years later, they were a big disappointment when they tried to out-muscle the Europeans in 1974, I was angered when Peru lay down to Argentina to edge Brazil out on goal difference in 1978, 1982 saw the most talented team never to win the World Cup beaten by a Paulo Rossi hat-trick, four years later they went out on penalties to France after drawing 1-1 in one of the best ever matches in World Cup history, our mutual friend Claudio Caniggia killed the Brazilian dream at Italia'90 and they won USA'94 in the most unBrazilian fashion, beating Italy on penalties after a turgid 0-0 draw.

 

There was turmoil in the camp when they lost the 1998 Final to hosts France, they recaptured their crown in some style in Japan in 2002 but lost out to the French in Germany four years ago.  They were certainly my team for South Africa, I simply couldn't see past them but the Dutch did remarkably well to turn things around after looking dead and buried in last week's quarter-final tie.

 

Whenever Brazil have departed, the anti-climax of the remainder of the tournament has been hard to take.  What if it had been England v Brazil in the 1966 semi-final, or Brazil v Holland in the '78 Final, or Brazil v Argentina in 1986, Brazil v Germany at Italia'90, Italy v Brazil in Berlin four years ago?  I can't help thinking what great treats would have been on the menu if it was Brazil v Uruguay tomorrow.  The saddest words there have ever been, are 'what' and 'might' and 'have' and 'been'!!!  Never mind, if they had to lose, who better to lose to than the Oranjemen?

 

Holland will have to cope with the great burden of expectation which comes from having beaten Brazil.  Beaten finalists in 1974 and 1978, losing to the host nation in each instance, West Germany and Argentina respectively, they will be aware of the folly of looking too far ahead to a final against Germany or Spain.  Uruguay will be very difficult semi-final opponents, although the loss of the suspended Luis Suarez will be a big blow to the South Americans.  They have enjoyed the rub of the green in both of their knock-out games against South Korea and Ghana and, if Holland can find that extra gear which has proved so elusive thus far, the South American challenge, which looked so formidable just a few short days ago, could finally be killed off in Cape Town.

 

The action replay of the Euro2008 Final in the other semi in Durban, Germany v Spain, is equally fascinating.  In Vienna two years ago the Spaniards were very much the form team and, although Germany proved dogged opponents, a flash of Fernando Torres magic settled the issue.  This time around Torres is a mere shadow of his former self, David Villa is Spain's main man, while Germany have a host of stars who have taken the World Cup by storm.  Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Muller and Podolski have all caught the eye but Miroslav Klose, with 14 World Cup goals in his career, is on course to pass the 15 goal tally of Brazil's Ronaldo.  With two games to play, it would take a brave man to bet against the Bayern Munich man making history.  

 

At this late stage of the competition, a case can be made for any of the semi-finalists taking that extra stride or two to lift the trophy at Soccer City on July 11.  The knowledge that Holland still have a few tricks in their armoury sways me their way over Uruguay, while I'm looking for Joachim Loew's rampant ruthless Germans to give Spain the same treatment which floored England and Argentina.  So I suppose you'll all be rushing down to the cream-cookies to get your money on a Uruguay v Spain Final!!!   

 

Beyond these midweek matches it is no easier to call.  Of the four semi-finalists, Germany have been by far the most impressive, even in their unexpected loss to Serbia, and it was the resilience they showed in bouncing back from that disappointment to demolish the highly fancied English and Argentineans which sets them apart.  But the Dutch have been carrying a grudge for the 36 years which have elapsed since they lost 2-1 to West Germany in Munich.  No success would be sweeter then to reverse the roles at Soccer City at the weekend and it could be the memorable final the world wants to see.

 

But I can't help thinking that, on another day and with an even break here or there, Brazil could beat both Holland and Germany at the same time!!!

 

Tomorrow:  Holland v Uruguay.