Why Brazils demise made me sympathise...
I reserved my spot and the TV remote. With much difficulty as you can all imagine. The remote to the family TV can be likened to having the voice with the most gravitas during an argument. We all want it but only one of us can have it.
I started my campaign for the remote early, over the breakfast table. My eyes, if they are indeed windows to the soul, then they were a sandwich-board of messages of bleak doom, unable to open fully yet observant enough to see that the family were in attendance. I offered my morning platitudes and, like a narcoleptic ninja, I made my move. I told them all, this evening, the World Cup Semi-Final is taking place. The TV is mine. The couch is mine. No interruptions will be endured. Repercussions will be swift and severe. I then jumped on my magic cloud and beat a hasty retreat to my Kingdom of Midgets.......I may have fell asleep again at the end.
The reason that caused much panic within myself? That forced me to hatch a plan to wrestle the control of the plum spot and remote, like a balding Professor Chaos?
In my own ever-so-humble opinion, Argentina Vs Netherlands was decided by the Dark Arts of the sporadically beautiful game we love. Simulation, theatrics, a musical number lent from a tragic Broadway Show. Mostly performed by Robben. With a one-man-band kit. Dressed in Victorian garb. Whilst performing erudite gymnastics in the opposition penalty area. Quite an image.
It wasn’t just Robben who used the subtle arts of gamesmanship however. Argentina are well versed in this, but also reverted to the tried and trusted method of 'Kick Lumps out of them' when their tactical masterclass of 'Give Ball To Messi' doesn't reap dividends. This Semi (hrmph!) was a filthy chess match, the odd masterful move interspersed regularly with regular dollops of referee interruptions. It wasn’t classic viewing.
I did think this before the match kicked off, but anyone who has seen me attempt to predict the results of this fantastic competition will testify to this. However, I knew the Brazil Vs Germany game would be a match for the purist. Two contrasting styles, a partizan crowd, it had all the makings for a classic. I wasn't wrong on that occasion.
As I sat down to watch the unfolding events, the further Brazil had their noses rubbed into their own mess, much like a puppy being made to learn about toilet training, the more I thought about last season. Those horrifying defeats that have left ugly scars. Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea, their ugly visages screwed up in a sneer of derision as another goal was scored past our blameless GK. Every goal was a notch upon our bravado.
The shellshocked looks upon the Brazilian fans echoed evocative, locked away memories within my mind.
The hollowed out husks of the players that took to the field in the 3rd Place Play-Off wearing the Selecao jersey was testament to what a humbling can do. When the players know how much their beloved fans are smarting. Defeats in huge matches always leave a resonance during a set period of time, but a Heavy Defeat, a tonking, in a match of much prominence will always be brought up, it leaves a statue of sombre remembrance that journalists leave garish wreaths at the foot of when the anniversary occurs or every time the teams play each other.
As Gooners, we could relate to this black comedy unfolding on our screens. We have had moments similar to this, defeats of such overwhelming harshness that they will always be brought up in conversation, will forever be used as comparison, will permanently be used to illustrate weakness, will be used in adverts for TV channels. A ghost of an injury that leaves its debilitating breath upon your body and mind.
The Brazil defeat had marked differences of course.It was a match of huge significance of course.It was their home WC, the expectations upon their shoulders were high.I'm also sure the Selecao boys were indeed privy to the ugly events happening outside of their bubble of serendipity and wished to bring harmony to the people in perhaps the only way that could work.Certainly the Brazilian government weren't the answer, plus, Brazilians are more fanatical about their national team than any, I would say.Bringing that famous trophy back, to some say where it belongs, would be a soothing balm to a wound fast becoming inhibiting.
The pressure, inevitably burdening, obviously affected the players. Some are saying that the omissions of Neymar, the Talisman, the Jewel in the Crown, the Ray of Hope, and Thiago Silva, the General at the Back, were the mitigating factors for such a shocking result. I disagree. If Neymar were in the line-up, I'm sure they may have carried a bit more of a threat but their issues were at the back. If Thiago Silva had indeed won his appeal against his booking and lined up instead of Dante, I'm sure it wouldn't have been a sorry seven goals that were conceded. It would have been about five.
Brazil were rudderless, like a campaign to bring 'Rolfs Cartoon Club' back but filming from his cell.
