Posted on 07/10/2014 12:36:55 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
It was the most shocking defeat in the history of the World Cup. Brazil's 7-1 semifinal annihilation in Belo Horizonte at the hands of a faultless German side brought the host nation's tournament to a shuddering, horrifying end. After billions of dollars spent on stadiums, after years of build-up and preparation, after so much accrued expectation for soccer's most famed national team, no one could have conceived that it would suffer its worst ever World Cup loss. But it did.
The reaction in Brazil has been a mix of anger and despair. The front page of one of its leading dailies on Wednesday, bluntly read, "Shame, Grief, Humiliation."
Another headline read "Historic disgrace." The impact of such a monumental blow will likely echo for months and years to come. Here's how.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
To be fair, no expected four goals inside of six minutes. It simply doesn’t happen in this sport.
But it shows you even statisticians occasionally do get the odds wrong.
The world was less integrated at the height of Jogo Bonito, when the Brazilians made their big splash especially from ‘58 to ‘70, on the World stage most of the players were not well-known, they were not playing in Barcelona and with other top teams. That is how it was with Argentina and Brazil.
Some say the best Brazilian team ever was the ‘82 team that still didn’t win the World Cup.
Best to play stylishly and lose rather than on some general blueprint of play. The Brazilians really haven’t played their Jogo Bonito since 1982.
But the Brazilians were still great with Ronaldinho; I watched one friendly and they were on their game definitely.
This German team without mega-stars like Messi still could be one of the best World Cup teams ever, should they win the final and are to be congratulated for that.
England had 2 losses but just for me, were still rather entertaining to watch and they made a go of it. Our USA played overly-defensive and I can’t quarrel with that though there is some room to wonder how a more attack-minded game-plan would have looked against say Belgium. Belgium only looked that good against us but not against 4 other teams though the reasons for that are not totally clear.
Team USA is getting better. We finished second in Group G so while its not bragging rights, its pretty good. And there’s lots of time to prepare for Russia in 2018. We’re in it for the long haul.
All of this? Over soccer? Why?
I still have to wonder what the US’s approach would have looked like without the loss of Altidore. Even when he wasn’t scoring, his work up front opened things up for others.
Don’t worry, GeronL, Romo will take you guys all the way this year. Just like he did last ye...huh? Oh, ok, then like he did in...what?
The Dallas cheerleaders are sure great to look at are they not?
Are they going to have illegal immigrant chilrun start showing up at the border or something?
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