The action
in Brazil has separated boys from men. Tonight is the last day of the group
matches as teams battle for the last three slots in the Round of 16. In Group G, Germany, USA, Portugal and Ghana
all stand a chance of advancing and the Germany-USA, Portugal-Ghana clashes
promise explosive action in Recife and Brasilia respectively. In Group H,
Algeria, South Korea and Russia will be seeking to join Belgium in the second
round. Hosts Brazil, Mexico, Netherlands, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Colombia,
Greece, France, Switzerland, Chile, Argentina and Nigeria have all sealed their
places in the Round of 16 that starts on Saturday in Belo Horizonte.
However, a chilling statistic that should
perhaps offer the biggest scare to European teams is the fact that no European
team has ever lifted the Jules Rimets Trophy, on South American soil. The
closest they have come is a runner-up spot. In 1962, at Estadio Nacional in Santiago Chile, Brazil thrashed
Czechoklovakia Republic 3-1, Brazil walloped Italy 4-1 at Estadio Atzeca,
Mexico City in Mexico ( 1970). In 1978, Les Albiceleste beat Netherlands 3-1 in
the final at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, in front of their home crowd
and then a Diego Maradona inspired Albiceleste went on to pip West Germany 3-2
in the 1986 final at Estadio Atzeca in Mexico. The beautiful game is never
known to defy some of these patterns, and history has its place in soccer. On
July 13, at the historic Estadio De Maracana, history will once again see South
America’s most favorite football child Brazil’s Samba Boys or Les Albiceleste
of Argentina, lift the coveted Jules Rimet diadem!
The Oranges play flair and posses devastating
counter attacks, the German machine is as efficient as the Mercedes Benz. It
would be great to see Robin van Persie or Philip Lahm lift the trophy on July
13 and pop the champagne, but as the statistics suggest, this might not come to
fruition. Three of Europe’s best in Spain, Italy and England are already out.
Tonight Portugal could be on the plane home too. Europe is almost vanquished in
Brazil, while the South Americans are growing in potency as the tourney enters
its crucial and penultimate stages. Lionel Messi and Neymar Jnr are lighting up
the tournament with splendid breath-taking displays. One of the planet’s best,
Christiano Ronaldo has failed to live up to the huge football expectations and
the defenders in Brazil are not as scared of him, as the defenders in Europe.
He has failed to torment them and his Portuguese team might as well be headed
home tonight after the Ghana-Portugal clash.
South American teams have taken over the show
in Brazil, while their European counterparts have flopped and miserably failed.
The footballing gods have once again conspired to deny Europe glory in Brazil.
Runners-up is the best that Europe has ever gotten on South American soil and
Brazil 2014 might be no different. When held in South America, the world cup
belongs to South America.
In the meantime, let us enjoy the
scintillating football that the Netherlands and Germany have treated us to. But
word of caution, their fans should not over-blow their expectations in them.
Spain’s La Roja Furia brought the Jules Rimet Trophy to Brazil. They came with
the tag of defending champions and favorites, but miserably exited after the
first two games!
You
can reach the writer at jeanmutua@yahoo.com,
mutuamaundu14@gmail.com
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