Netherlands Take Third Place, Brazil Finish Fourth

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The third-place match is not really a game any team wants to play in.  Just by being there means you lost your semi-final and cannot win the tournament.  You cannot go home either so pride is the only thing at stake.  Brazil were put there by the titanic loss to Germany while the Netherlands fell to Argentina in penalty-kicks.  Both teams looked to recover after their respective defeats; Brazil being emotionally heart-broken and the Netherlands being physically drained.

Thiago Silva was greatly missed in the game against Germany and today returned from suspension to anchor the back line for Brazil.  However he put his team in trouble very early when he conceded a penalty.  Thiago Silva could not keep up with the pace of Robben so he pulled him down while running into the box.  Silva was the last defender on a clear goal scoring chance and deserved a red card, but was lucky to only get a yellow.  Van Persie took penalty kick and scored for the Netherlands (3').

The other Brazilian centerback David Luiz then put his team further in trouble when he made a poor clearance in the box.  A cross by Lonathan De Guzman was headed away by David Luiz, but only as far as Daley Blind waiting near the penalty spot.  Nobody for Brazil covered Blind and he scored with a free shot on goal (16').

For a moment Brazil were having flashbacks of the German beat down, but settled down and created some chances.  Oscar in particular looked like he was going to either create or score a goal to get back into the match.  Unfortunately that did not happen as Brazil could not find the net today.  Fernandinho, Hernanes, and Hulk came in off the bench, but nobody was able to beat the Dutch defense.

The Netherlands added a final goal late in the match to solidify the result.  Robben played Joël Janmaat behind the Brazilian defense and he was able to play the ball across the face of goal.  The pass was played right into the path of Wijnaldum who hit the shot first-time to score (90 +1').

Only one more match is left to play at the 2014 World Cup and it is the grand finale.  Germany and Argentina will face-off to see who will lift the trophy and decide who is the best team in the world.

Brazil-Mexico Tie, Ochoa Outstanding

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Group A returned to action today with host nation Brazil taking on Mexico.  Both teams won their first matches, Brazil beating Croatia and Mexico beating Cameroon.  Today in Fontaleza Mexico came out with the exact same line-up as the previous match that ended in success.  Brazil too fielded nearly the same line-up as before with the exception of Ramires starting in place of the injured Hulk.

Not having Hulk in the line-up seemed to hurt the host nation.  Together Neymar and Fred had several close chances to score, but failed to find the net.  Nor could Jo, who replaced Fred in the second-half.  Thiago Silva had one of the best chances late in the match on a corner-kick for Brazil.  The captain was left unmarked in the box and won a free header.  He was denied by the Mexico keeper though, who came away with a clean sheet.

Guillermo Ochoa, the Mexico keeper, was undoubtedly the man of the match.  Four or five times Ochoa made outstanding plays to deny goals for Brazil.  The back line in front of him also played well with veteran captain Rafa Márquez keeping them organized.  Goal scoring is still a concern for Mexico who again used Chicharito Hernández off the bench.  

Brazil supporters are likely to be disappointed with the scoreless result, but should still be considered favorites to win the group with Cameroon left to play.  Mexico on the other hand should be pleased with taking one point away from the match.  Of course their next match will be against Croatia and should be approached as a must-win game.

Obvious Dive Gives Brazil Go-Ahead Goal

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Host nation Brazil were featured in the 2014 World Cup kick-off match today against a tenacious Croatian team.  A lot of pressure is on Brazil to perform well, especially following the successful campaign last year in the Confederations Cup.

Despite the overwhelming support for the home team from the sea of yellow in the stands, Brazil fell behind in the opening moments of the match.  Croatian forward Ivica Olić made a long run up the left side and rolled a cross in front of Brazil's goal.  Striker Jelavić could only get a partial touch on the cross, sending the ball into defender Marcelo.  Unfortunately for the rightback the ball deflected off his foot into Brazil's net for an own-goal (11').

Brazil did not panic and as the first-half rolled along they started to test the Croatian keeper.  Stipe Pletikosa blocked the first shots from Paulinho and Oscar, but could not turn away the shot from Neymar.  From outside the box Neymar sent a rather weak shot towards goal that was just out of reach for Pletikosa, leveling the score (29').

The first-half ended without further incident and after the half-time break Croatia came out with a more physical approach.  The change in tactics was effective at slowing down the flow of the Brazilian offense until the referee made a terrible mistake that drastically impacted the match.  Brazilian striker Fred made an obvious dive inside the box, but the referee bought it.

Instead of a yellow card to Fred for simulation, defender Lovren was shown a card and Brazil were awarded a penalty.  Neymar took the shot from the spot and scored the go-ahead goal (71').  Keeper Pletikosa actually got both hands on the shot, but could not keep the ball out of the net.

In the final moments of the match Brazil added an insurance goal when Oscar made a break following a turnover in midfield.  Oscar managed to fire off a shot with a toe-poke to beat the keeper for the last goal of the match (90 +1').  Again Croatian keeper Pletikosa had a chance to make the stop on the play, only to come up empty due to slow reactions.

Brazil escape their first round match with an unconvincing win.  Forwards Fred and Hulk were both rather subdued throughout the match and keeper Julio César did not look very confident in front of goal.  Croatia on the other hand were quite fluid through the midfield and will have Mario Mandzukić back for the next match.  Their biggest concern right now will be whether or not to make a change at keeper going forward.

Brazil Win 2013 Confederations Cup

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Host nation Brazil won the 2013 Confederations Cup by beating Spain 3-0 in the final.  Although Spain is the top ranked team in the world, under the circumstances of tonight's match, they never had a chance.

Just to reach the final Spain had to endure a grueling overtime match against Italy that was eventually decided in a shoot-out.  Brazil had an extra day of rest before the final and of course had the enormous support of the fans as the host nation.

And that support was directly translated onto the field.  Especially in the first-half, all the calls by the referee went in Brazil's favor.  Two yellow cards were issued to Spanish players, Arbeloa and Sergio Ramos, while Brazil got away with a number of fouls that went unbooked.  Later in the second-half Pique was sent off with a straight red card after a foul on Neymar, who was running away from goal.

Brazil were the better team today though, and understandably so with their motivation to win.  The citizens of Brazil have been quite unhappy about the recent build up to next year's World Cup, protesting for the last two weeks.  The players knew that the protests were towards the government, not the teams, and by winning the tournament they would at least give the people something to celebrate.

There is still a lot of work ahead for Brazil, both for the team and the nation as a whole.  Winning today is certainly a step in the right direction and hopefully it will give the people something to believe in.