Opinion: An Epic Fourth World Cup Title

07/14/2014 - 11h49

The World Cup ended with what had been imagined to be an embarrassment outside stadiums and a Brazilian apotheosis within, with the consecration of sixth world title.

It was exactly the opposite.

The Brazilian team posted its biggest flop in the hundred years of its history and, although the World Cup has been, football-matically speaking, of great quality, the sporting legacy that it leaves is the belated, and urgent reform of management methods in the rotten power structure of the CBF and its associate federations, with the traditional complicity of the clubs, all forgiven by buzzwords, flour from the same bag of corruption and incompetence.

Germany won, an example of rationality in pursuit of excellence, capable in only 14 years to come out on top, return to the podium without ever having ceased to compete for the top positions.

They reached the 4th title 24 years after their third, an example of which made national teams from Brazil and Italy in the same space of time, with the difference of them having won with ball in progress, thanks to the great goal from Götze in the second half of extra time of an epic game in Maracanã, played head to head, with German domain, the best Argentine chances and a penalty on Neuer by Higuaín not called.

Germany has a big team full of superstars, many more than the stiffer Argentina, whose single "andorinha" can no longer make midsummer neither there nor in any team in the world, because increasingly football is collective and depends less on individuals, however good they are and more that they follow in making a difference.

Moreover, Germany set the example with its self-sustaining football off the field, with clubs that live within their budgets and invest in youth, and with average attendance of over 45,000 fans per game, with the courage to bet on a young coach who battled for football not only for victory but for being well played as well.

It would be bad, at this Brazilian moment, we see a victory that the royal court attendants would attribute to someone like Julio Grondona, as ominous as our football executives.

In a way, Maracanã eventually lived through another 'Maracanazo', but now in Spanish. Because it was heartbreaking to see how 'los hermanos' were in their last tango in Rio

It registers that, however painful, the platinum players remained on the field for the awards, unlike what the Brazilians did in Mané Garrincha stadium, a lack of class that was repeated at the Atlanta Olympics.

Messi was in the World Cup according to FIFA, although Robben was the best, for this column.

However little the fans of the worst possible scenario want to admit, Brazil, thanks to popular sympathy and its beauties that enchant and blind the foreigners, also won.

It makes a good advertisement for itself, even if no aspects can be revealed not considered by those who came from the outside: white elephants that will be like a heavy inheritance, over-billings, deaths of workers at stadiums or under overpasses, holidays to minimize congestion, inhuman evictions, the lack of lighting in the opening game, the invasion of fans at Maracanã, arbitrary arrests to prevent protests, meager opening and closing acts and, finally, the demotion in retaliation of such FIFA standards, however much, in fact, stadiums are beautiful and comfortable.

Aspects for us Brazilians, we digest going forward in relation to mega events, which, at least, must undergo public consultations, because it is clear they are very good for those who promote them and not necessarily for those who receive them and pay for them.

Because there is no greater example of the inferiority complex that suffices with foreign praise, even if it is often superficial, almost folkloric, influenced by the exoticism, for example, of the favelas.

Let it be repeated: Brazil won the 20th FIFA World Cup and on top of held us for decades against the popular economy, a priceless legacy, exemplary, worthy of a standing ovation as well as national hospitality.

Our Cup was much better than the one in South Africa, but wasn't, as an organization, better than 2006.

Of course, Germany expects perfection, and Germany was close to this.

Brazil was expected to be a disaster, and Brazil was far from it.

Translated by STEVE HUGHES

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