How Brazil’s World Cup disaster could change the nation

washingtonpost.com ^ | July 9, 2014 | Ishaan Tharoor

[Berlin_Freeper]

for your desktop background -
http://i.imgur.com/NJWqHmP.jpg

[Berlin_Freeper]

Brazil face must-win game the Dutch don't even want
"... the worst thing is I believe that chances are that you lose twice in a row," he said.

"And a tournament in which you've played so marvelously well, you would go home as a loser

[Berlin_Freeper]

three league appearances

[Berlin_Freeper]

Lionel Messi dedicates Argentina win to journalist

[GeronL]

Romo deserved a shot and he had his shot. It’s kind of hard to still argue, as I did a few years ago, that he deserves a chance. He had it, he blew it.

[GeronL]

Sean Lee is already out for the season. A good player when healthy (hardly) and a roster spot that cannot be cleared.

Plus they made no big moves in free agency or the draft IMO

I have no high hopes.

[BeadCounter]

July 11th, 1998, Croatia defeated Netherlands for 3rd place. Not bad for a country that was around 10 years old, Croatia.

Face it, when Sweden won 3rd in 1994, they were given a heroes welcome and after all, the winner Brazil only defeated them 1-1 in the group stage, 1-0 in the semi-finals. For countries like Sweden or Croatia who won it in 1998, it probably is a big thing.

It's the bronze medal. That can be knocked but I'd be happy with Silver or Bronze if I were in the Olympics. Some people understandably don't care as well.

[safeasthebanks]

"Brazilian football at its best is fluid, beautiful, elegant and simply fun to watch"

In my opinion, this is one of the great prevailing myths of the sport. Sorry, but this hasn't been true (in any consistent way) since the 1986 World Cup. With most Brazilians going to play for all those big clubs in Europe, the "Brazilian Way" got coached right out of them. And damn quickly, too. Sad.

[safeasthebanks]

Umm, your post is supposed to be trying to get people to contribute, correct?

You think that maybe that joke is a bit counter-productive, especially on this thread?

[MHGinTN]

The Argentines will beat the Brazilians on Saturday, revealing that Brazil is fourth place country, er team.

[MHGinTN]

And that sums up Soccer ... (the finals are Germany and Argentina on Sunday, and the Dutch and Brazil on Saturday, for those who are paying attention).

[Mears]

bfl

[RayChuang88]

But note that for consistent national conferation excellence, the Deutscher Fussball-Bund is still the gold standard everyone wants to emulate even during Spain's success in recent years.

[BeadCounter]

But note that for consistent national conferation excellence, the Deutscher Fussball-Bund is still the gold standard everyone wants to emulate even during Spain's success in recent years.

Spain, 3 major trophies in 4 years, 2 Euros and 1 World Cup. Enough said.

[Verginius Rufus]

Brian Kilmeade proven wrong—on “Fox & Friends” this morning he was talking about how the two popes would probably watch the game together.

[BeadCounter]

But note that for consistent national conferation excellence,

According to who? That's totally subjective.

Right now, the case can be made past German teams have been more successful even, more Euro Cup.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Germany's secret Messi plan

[RayChuang88]

And the Spanish national team has fallen off the map since 2012. Meanwhile, the Mannschaft has at least made the World Cup semifinals a lot in the last 20 years.

[dfwgator]

So you think Pope Benedict and Pope Francis have a little wager on the game?

[dfwgator]

In sports fannism I am numb to humiliation being a Dallas Cowboys fan.

Ditto for the Texas Rangers.

Fire Daniels!