Despite of suffering a moral crushing 7-1 defeat at the hands of Germany, Brazilian fans are more likely to be cheering for their eradicators rather than taking sides with their arch nemeses. Brazilian fans and the local newspapers have already started expressing their fears that following a devastating loss to Germany their miseries might be further galvanized should Argentina win the title on Sunday.
“Seeing Argentina in the final in our home hurts, especially after the Selecao’s worst-ever defeat,” said Marcio Carneiro da Silva, 36, a mailman and a Brazilian fan who revealed his sorrows at a restaurant in Rio de Janeiro.
His friend Cesar Augusto, 37 has already decided which team he will support on Sunday. “Now I’m German,” he said.
The 2014 World Cup final will be held in the same stadium which brought the football crazy nation a lot of disappointment 64 years back when A Seleção lost to Uruguay in the 1950 World Cup final at the Maracana.
Should Argentina record a win on Sunday, the result will be traumatizing for a lot of local fans.
“The nightmare continues,” wrote O Dia newspaper in its online edition.
“In addition to not being able to dream about a sixth title, Brazilians will have to live with the real possibility of one of its main rivals triumphing in the ultimate football temple,” it said.
Brazil and Argentina share a rivalry which can be dated back to a number of centuries. Political tensions between the two nations have also resulted in wars and it is safe to say that Brazilian fans would absolutely hate the idea of La Albiceleste lifting the title and that too at their own soil. The samba giants do have an advantage over their rivals having won the World title a record five times, but despite reaching the last four this time around the campaign may altogether end as a failure.
Neymar himself could not play a part during Brazil disappointing semifinal fixture against Germany but his agent Wagner Ribeiro had some very harsh words for Luiz Felipe Scolari. Neymar’s agent went ballistic after his national side suffered the humiliating defeat and his tweet translated into English aimed at Big Phil listed six "requirements" for being Brazil’s coach:
“One - being Portugal coach and winning nothing.
Two - going to Chelsea and being sacked the following day.
Three - going to coach in Uzbekistan.
Four - returning to Brazil, taking over a big team [Palmeiras] and getting them relegated to the second division.
Five - leaving the club 56 days before the end of the Brasileirao [season] to 'escape' the relegation.
Six - being an old jerk, arrogant, repulsive, conceited and ridiculous.”
Brazil are now under increasing pressure to put the result behind them and come out well prepared for their third place match against Netherlands. Whereas the match really has no bearing for the ultimate champions will be decided on Sunday night, a victory on Saturday for Brazil will help them restore some pride.
Anything else coupled with a victory for Argentina in the final will be a crushing defeat to Brazil and their fans something which they might take a long time to recover from.
Despite the enmity the two countries share, Neymar has put his friendship with Messi above everything else and has claimed that he would want his Barcelona teammate to do well in the final.
"Messi deserves to win the World Cup," the 22-year-old said.
"He's my friend, I wish him the best."
