WORLD CUP: Brazil has the negative record
Goal compares the Selecao's two worst footballing moments, after the World Cup host nation were thrashed 7-1 by Germany in their semi-final on Tuesday
COMMENT
By Sammie Frimpong
Prior to last night's 7-1 mauling by Germany, there was one other humiliation Brazilians had imprinted in their sub-conscious.
Back in July 1950, Uruguay delivered the original 'Maracanazo' by defeating the Selecao, hosts of that year's World Cup, 2-1 against considerably huge odds.
Just how, though, do these two unforgettable defeats compare? Is the 'Mineiraço' (as the crushing loss in Belo Horizonte's Mineirao Stadium is already being referred to by the Brazilian press) relative to the shocking events of 64 years ago?
By Sammie Frimpong
Prior to last night's 7-1 mauling by Germany, there was one other humiliation Brazilians had imprinted in their sub-conscious.
Back in July 1950, Uruguay delivered the original 'Maracanazo' by defeating the Selecao, hosts of that year's World Cup, 2-1 against considerably huge odds.
Just how, though, do these two unforgettable defeats compare? Is the 'Mineiraço' (as the crushing loss in Belo Horizonte's Mineirao Stadium is already being referred to by the Brazilian press) relative to the shocking events of 64 years ago?
While current Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari could try and hide behind the absence of injured talisman Neymar and suspended captain Thiago Silva, the truth is their problems were obvious long before the semi-finals.
In the knock-out rounds - even with Silva and Neymar featuring - they had been anything but vintage, as they eked out the narrowest of triumphs against South American rivals Chile and Colombia.
Compare this with the Brazil '50 side that had played so delectably and, ahead of the loss to Uruguay, had netted 13 times in the preceding two games, and the gulf in class is only too apparent.
Consider, too, that while the Selecao class of 1950 performed well enough to finish runners-up, the current crop are already certain to end up with less. It could be bronze, or - in a worst-case scenario - nothing at all.
In the knock-out rounds - even with Silva and Neymar featuring - they had been anything but vintage, as they eked out the narrowest of triumphs against South American rivals Chile and Colombia.
Compare this with the Brazil '50 side that had played so delectably and, ahead of the loss to Uruguay, had netted 13 times in the preceding two games, and the gulf in class is only too apparent.
Consider, too, that while the Selecao class of 1950 performed well enough to finish runners-up, the current crop are already certain to end up with less. It could be bronze, or - in a worst-case scenario - nothing at all.
Even more crucially, while the margin between success and failure the first time Brazil staked a genuine shot at claiming glory on the world stage was a late, solitary Alcides Ghiggia goal, Germany could hardly have been more convincing in exposing just how ordinary Scolari's Brazil are.
As a contest, the game was already over after just half an hour, by which time Thomas Muller, Miroslav Klose, Toni Kroos (2), and Sami Khedira had slammed five past a hapless Julio Cesar.
As a contest, the game was already over after just half an hour, by which time Thomas Muller, Miroslav Klose, Toni Kroos (2), and Sami Khedira had slammed five past a hapless Julio Cesar.
However one perceives it, Brazil simply came up embarrassingly short against Joachim Low's side yesterday. In fact, it was the worst they have ever been in any match at all 20 editions of the World Cup they've graced.
For that reason and those highlighted above, the 'Maracanazo' will now be deemed a significantly milder misfortune, its agonising effect mitigated as much by time as by a disaster infinitely worse.
For that reason and those highlighted above, the 'Maracanazo' will now be deemed a significantly milder misfortune, its agonising effect mitigated as much by time as by a disaster infinitely worse.
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