So two games of the Brazil World Cup remain, albeit one be the most pointless game of all, the World Cup has been a tournament of goals galore, mistakes, amazing performances and big guns busted in the group stage. When we saw the Semi Final line up we had two mouth watering prospects to look forward to. We did though go from one incredible game on one night to an abysmal painful game ended on penalties. In the various conversations Ive had about the World Cup, no one was expecting quite the scoreline that Germany and Brazil provided. Given the performances of the hosts and the fortune that the German's had ridden on, many people might have expected a close win to the European nation. Brazil from the opening game against Croatia had seemed to be rolling the lucky sixes. This was not the Brazil that we had come to expect, far from it. It was abject and unspiring compared to Brazil of previous World Cup Finals tournaments. The penalty shootout escape against Chile proved that surely the game was up. In the semi finals, Brazil's plight was summed up by the fact that the home fans were shouting ole each time Germany had the ball. A sad indictment of a team with such football heritage.
Running upto the World Cup, a handful of good performances showed that this Germany side might edge it in games. The USA ran Germany close and could consider themselves unlucky not to take a point. I guess though we should expect Germany to start quietly and then provide the magic. The Germans who had not won a major competition since Euro 96, turned up against Brazil. They werent the steam rolling German side that we had known previously, but there were warnings of what was to come in the European Championships in 2016. A goal rush in as many minutes, saw a good start turn into a wonder scoreline. One friend on facebook during the game said "If this was a game of FIFA, the losing player would have quit by now. Of course the only time you would have expected to see a half time scoreline of Brazil 0-5 Germany, would indeed have been on a console game of some sort. This is Brazil, no Brazil side ever gets hammered let alone being 5-0 down at half time, but it came to be that the pain would not be over.
The other semi final was always going to have a lot to live up to as the Netherlands faced Argentina. Sadly it failed to live up to anything and to be honest anyone hoping for some Dennis Bergkamp's style magic were clearly hoping for too much. The game petered out and just when you hoped that the pain might ended with a mistimed challenge by Mascherano to give away a penalty, much disappointment would be heading your way.
If many had known that the impending dullness would last 120 minutes and a penalty shoot out, I assume even the most hardened of football fans might have given this one a miss. This time there would be no Tim Krul shoot out hero as the Dutch missed their opening penalty. Vlaar of Aston Villa stepped up and saw his saved. It would seem the fallout from the penalty shoot out was that some Dutch players refused to take a penalty. The opportunity to send your nation to a World Cup finals against your neighbours and rivals obviously wasn't enough to want them to stand up and be counted.
Of course it wouldn't be surprising in the game of football to have the just plain crazy results. The early tie of the group stage saw current champions Spain lock horns with the Netherlands in a repeat of the 2010 World Cup Final. Many probably expected a draw or a sneaky win.
Spain hit first blood with a penalty from Costa, but that would be their only joy. A missed opportunity by Silva to put Spain 2-0 up, would prove costly as just before halftime, Robin Van Persie grabbed the leveller with an amazing header which at the time was being labelled goal of the tournament. What would follow was the capitulation of the Champions. The Dutch it seemed were making their intent known and every other challenger on notice. Unfortunately they didn't repeat their on pitch strolling and would find themselves battling through matches. This though I imagine would be the mark of possible champions.
So to the penultimate game. Netherlands face Brazil in the 3rd and 4th place playoff. Why do we have to put up with this nonsense. The only other competition to have the playoff as far as In aware is the Olympics. This being necessary to award the bronze medal.
The World Cup doesn't need it. The fans don't need it, the fans, manager's and players don't want it. Having just lost in the World Cup semi finals, why would anyone want to face another match which has no bearing on anything. Who could blame Louis Van Gaal, sneaking back to England and starting business in his new role of Manchester United manager.
Brazil could do without it after the battering they received. Saying that though, I imagine Brazil will maybe want to go out with a win in their final match of the 2014 World Cup tournament.
Whatever happens, most eyes will be on the final between Germany and Argentina.
