Forst published by Ace Magazine online June 2014.
The atmosphere for most of the games so far at this World Cup has been as electric as witnessing as a supernova explode with fury or finding yourself at the most sought after party in history where every drink was free and yet nobody got the slight bit inebriated and the conversation flowed like millions of tonnes of water over Niagara Falls. Yet somehow that same supernova was somehow lacking as you watched knowing that as you safely hid behind enough material to keep you safe from the harm, the explosion that would leave countless worlds destroyed was inaudible because your earphones had decided to pack up just before the mass of fury cascaded throughout space.
Brazil 2014 has had that effect so far, undoubtedly the best World Cup since 1990, almost every game a spectacle of football, a veritable feast for the senses and yet the hosts have steadfastly refused to join in, preferring to sit like a millionaire on their bed, already in their pyjamas and contemplating an early night, whilst downstairs the rave of the century is underway.
If not for Neymar, there is an argument that the hosts could well be waking up tomorrow morning with nothing better to do than chauffer the guests home, clean up the mess and wonder what all the fuss was about. Technically Neymar and substitute Fernandinho, could well be the only reasons why Brazil came top of their group, or why they qualified for the last 16 at all.
Brazil, like Mexico, went into their final game of the group stages knowing full well that a win would take them through and yet somehow you sensed the apprehension that anything other than a comfortable win, a colossus of a result should Mexico hammer Croatia, would see them play Holland in the next round. However Chile will not be the walk over that people seem to believe it will be. Brazil needs to enjoy being in the last 16, so far they have been perfect hosts to match, they need to be more forthcoming, to be a Brazil that’s devastating, not just in attack but in defence where at times they resembled watching a swarm of hyper-active wasps without the ability to sting.
Watching Neymar on this form is sublime, you cannot help but drool over his capacity to entertain as well as score goals. For many under the age of 50, they must feel robbed of the experience of never having watched Pele at the height of powers, to live off stories and crackling, sometimes unclear pictures, yet Neymar, when seen in a game like this, where the ball just toyed with the opposition will surely be considered Generation X and Y’s Pele. Brazil should be thanking him for his work rate today.
For Cameroon, they have had the type of World Cup that can make England feel as though it has been one of unfound glory. In fact both teams have had poor ones but at least England have at least hope, it is hard watching Cameroon, the country that lit up Italia ‘90 with so much style, playing the type of football that you would be concerned of seeing played on recreational park on a small island where they don’t even have a football to kick around.
The realist would always say that Brazil didn’t need to turn on any of the charm, not yet, the beautiful game will come when they play bigger opposition, perhaps Germany, Holland or Argentina, and that they were never in any type of danger against a team that found it easier to fight amongst themselves than give anyone a decent game and yet for a brief while, admittedly too brief, they did give Brazil a game, they didn’t choke when Neymar put the hosts one up, they came to Brasília with a plan at least and for that perhaps football fans watching at home should be thankful.
That plan paid off when unexpectedly Cameroon equalised, the party atmosphere inside the stadium, and outside in the bars and homes of the nation’s capital dropped quicker than a strict and forceful priest finding his way to a house of ill repute believing it to be a home for retired nuns. Shocked! For many perhaps but the defensive qualities of Brazil are not to be compared to the way they go forward. Upfront they can hurt anyone, as it has been seen, at the back, at times they are a venerable as a week old kitten wondering why the ball of yarn is fighting back. Upfront they have presence in Hulk, Fred and of course Neymar, they even have Fernandinho to call upon but what they lack, is a man who can control the game all over, this Brazilian team is missing its very own Socrates.
The illusion that Cameroon might really trouble Brazil didn’t last long but it gave a different type of entertainment to the mischievous that somewhere Brazil really could be hurt. Neymar though had other thoughts as he superbly got his second and from there, even the misfiring Fred could not help but join in.
The score of four-one is flattering. The history books won’t care; the Nationwide Football Annual and the Sky Sports book that come out every August will show the result and it will look conclusive; it will resemble the great Brazilian side of 1970 who tore Italy apart in the final. This, so far, is not that Brazilian side, it doesn’t come close to the side that young kids in England and all over Europe fell in love with in 1982 and who willed them on unconditionally, technically as superior as you could ever want, a couple of players aside, about as easy on the eye as drained swimming pool.
In theory Brazil should make the quarter-finals with ease, Chile, as already been suggested though will not be pushovers, despite the fact that Chili rarely beat the boys from Brazil. It will get harder for the hosts once they come across the big guns. For Cameroon, a period of heavy soul searching is in order. The rights and wrongs of money in sport will no doubt be argued over once more. Will fans ever see a Cameroon side again with the flair and tenacity of those heroes of 1990, on this World Cup’s performances, it truly is doubtful.
Cameroon: Charles Itandje, Allan Nyom, Nicolas N’Koulou, Joël Matip, Henri Bedimo, Landry N’Guémo, Stéphane Mbia, Eyong Enoh, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Benjamin Moukandjo, Vincent Aboubakar.
Substitutes: Edgar Salli, Pierre Webó, Jean Makoun.
Brazil: Júlio César, Dani Alves, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Marcelo, Luiz Gustavo, Paulinho, Oscar, Hulk, Neymar, Fred.
Substitutes: Fernandinho, Ramires, Willian
Referee: Jonas Eriksson.
Venue: Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha, Brasília.
Scorers: Cameroon: Matip. Brazil: Neymar (2), Fred, Fernandinho
Final Score: Cameroon 1-4 Brazil.
Man of the Match: Neymar (Brazil).
Ian D. Hall