Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Compromise? There is no middle ground between a firefighter and an arsonist.

We cannot abandon the truth and remain a free nation.

Hey hey, RFK, how many kids did you kill today?

The willow is too close to the house.

Books are my comfort food!

It’s the corruption, stupid.

It’s all just conspiracy shit beamed down from the mothership.

The cruelty is the point; the law be damned.

If you voted for Trump, you don’t get to speak about ethics, morals, or rule of law.

if you can’t see it, then you are useless in the fight to stop it.

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You don’t get to peddle hatred on saturday and offer condolences on sunday.

Marge, god is saying you’re stupid.

Donald Trump found guilty as fuck – May 30, 2024!

The lights are all blinking red.

Giving in to doom is how we fail to fight for ourselves & one another.

This chaos was totally avoidable.

75% of people clapping liked the show!

JFC, are there no editors left at that goddamn rag?

I might just take the rest of the day off and do even more nothing than usual.

Well, whatever it is, it’s better than being a Republican.

American history and black history cannot be separated.

I’m starting to think Jesus may have made a mistake saving people with no questions asked.

Insiders who complain to politico: please report to the white house office of shut the fuck up.

You are here: Home / Sports / Semi-final Open Thread Brazil v Germany

Reader Interactions

296Comments

  4. 4.

    IM

    We will panzer you!

    Or whatever I am expected to say.

    I do hope for a Klose goal and the record, though.

  7. 7.

    Schlemizel

    Deutschland über alles
    Über alles in der Welt,
    Wenn es stets zu Schutz und Trutze
    Brüderlich zusammenhält,

    When always, for protection,
    We stand together as brothers.
    Sounds like Germany, all Defense

  8. 8.

    Punchy

    Not sure how/why Brasil is favored in this game, unless someone knows the refs a little too well. Out their best player, and Germany is just a machine. Seems like it should be Germany 2-0 easy.

    Then again, soccer is so damn corrupt that who knows what could transpire.

  9. 9.

    HumboldtBlue

    He can opine with the best of them, Randinho, but from my eyes and the eyes of a lot of other people Brazil got very favorable refereeing against Colombia. Let’s hope the Germans put an end to them today.

  10. 10.

    Calouste

    @Punchy:

    Well, Referinho hasn’t really being doing much for Brazil since his influential performance in the opening match, but I expect him to show up now it really matters and win the match for Brazil.

  11. 11.

    Amir Khalid

    @Schlemizel:
    That verse of the Deutschlandlied is, alas, no longer sung as part of the national anthem. Neither is the second verse, the one about Deutscher Wein, Deutsche Frauen und Deutsche Sang. Which is a pity, because how many national anthems mention wine, women and song? Nowadays they sing only the third and final verse: the boring one that begins, Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit.

  18. 18.

    Randy Paul aka Randinho

    That’s what happens when you don’t mark Germany’s best striker.

  23. 23.

    Schlemizel

    @Amir Khalid:
    I knew that verse was no longer sung but thought I was being clever associating the ‘always protection’ with the German sides constant focus on D.. Despite the actual benign intent it originally had it sort of got wrapped up with some ugly companions and needed to go away. Every national anthem should have a verse on wine women & song, it would be so much better than the war-like and.or gawd-bothering of most anthems.

  25. 25.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    Whether or not Klose sets the record this week, Müller’s got a hell of a chance to break it eventually.

  28. 28.

    Schlemizel

    @raven:
    The Russian pejorative for Germans is (or at least was when I was there in the early 70s) “doob” (long ‘o’s like in book) which I was told came from the Russian for ‘oak’ and refered to their being dense, slow-witted & slow moving.

  30. 30.

    HumboldtBlue

    Someone made the observation in the early days of the tournament that Brazil was at a disadvantage heading into the Cup because they did not have to qualify and the other teams came in having gone through the battles while Brazil warmed up with friendlies against weaker teams.

  32. 32.

    pseudonymous in nc

    I think McMahon is mostly right about Brazil-Colombia: watching it live, I saw Brazil choking out the midfield, and perhaps a bit of a Refereeinho effect, but I didn’t think it was a dirty game. Colombia got unnerved at the beginning, took time to settle, and couldn’t generate either the pace out of the back or the coherence out of midfield that served them well in previous matches. (That goal from a cross shouldn’t have been disallowed, though.)

    Anyway, early goal for Die Mannschaft, which puts the cat among the clichés.

  33. 33.

    Amir Khalid

    @Schlemizel:
    Or the boring pieties in the third verse of the Deutschlandlied. But the Germans are very cautious these days about jingoistic patriotism.

  36. 36.

    Schlemizel

    Not exactly the defensive wet blanket expect so far, actually exciting to the casual almost fan.

    But then I’ll never get futbol because I dared question the method used to determine extra time for fucks sake.

  37. 37.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    I assume that there was no penalty on Lahm because he got the ball first? That rule’s been changed in hockey; if you trip the guy up, it’s a penalty even if you get the puck first.

  42. 42.

    Tony J

    Looks like Oscar is the guy stepping up to give Brazil the penetration they need in the last third if the pitch, but the Gerrmsns are already giving off that familiar whiff of unconcerned relentlessness.

    ETA – Like that.

    ETA x2 – And like that. Bloody hell, they’re not even finding it hard.

    ETA x 3 – Now it’s embarrassing. Someone turn out the lights.

  59. 59.

    Amir Khalid

    Klose gets his 16th World Cup finals goal. Defensive mistakes are costing the Selecao dear.

    ETA: 3-0. This is turning into a rout.

  63. 63.

    Randy Paul aka Randinho

    Well if anyone thinks that the cup was being bought for Brazil . . .

  64. 64.

    Alex S.

    Well, people have complained that this World Cup hasn’t had a new classic knock-out game so far, here it is…

  66. 66.

    Schlemizel

    Wish I owned stock in German breweries – they may be drained dry tonight. There will be no work done tomorrow!

  67. 67.

    ⚽️ Martin

    Well, nice to see the curse of a 1-0 game is broken, but this is turning into a rout. Didn’t want to see that against the home team.

    Brazil needs to regroup, at this rate Germany will win 16-0.

  68. 68.

    Mike E

    Goooooool! Holee sheeuht.
    Univision cuts to shocked, dumbfounded, sobbing Brazilians.

  71. 71.

    SRW1

    Jebus, Germany has given up a 4-0 lead once against Sweden. I very much doubt, it’s gonna happen tonight. This looks over before 30 min are played.

  73. 73.

    pseudonymous in nc

    There are cones on the training ground that have more mobility than the Brazilian back line.

  77. 77.

    Steeplejack

    Wow. ESPN announcer just said “Brazil’s World Cup is surely over.” At 26 minutes into the game. Hard to disagree, though.

  78. 78.

    morfydd

    My feed is on about a two minute delay and the screams of joy from the neighborhood DON’T STOP…

  85. 85.

    MikeJ

    The Brazilians just trimmed it too narrow. Looks like the Germans are going to wax their ass.

  88. 88.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    I honestly think that the Germans have been the beneficiaries of a couple of bad calls. But that doesn’t explain 4- . . .

    Excuse me. 5-0.

  90. 90.

    proterozoic

    I’ve never seen anything like this. Klose gets #1 top WC scorer ever, with 2 goals against Brazil… first 26 minutes. Unspeakable humiliation.

    All of a sudden, our 1-0 loss against Germany is lookin’ pretty good.

  93. 93.

    proterozoic

    Motherfuck me, I can’t even type a comment and the Germans score another..

    Un fucking believable

  96. 96.

    HumboldtBlue

    That was three minutes of playing Fifa on a playstation … oops hasn’t stopped

  100. 100.

    MikeJ

    The best hope for Brazil is a Black Sunday style blimp attack that cancels the game.

  101. 101.

    Schlemizel

    @Schlemizel:
    @Amir Khalid:
    Interesting, I was trying to write a comment & it double posted without me touching it. What I was going to add – off thread entirely – was I have a second cousin who was an anti-aircraft gunner for a couple of weeks in ’45. The Waffen boys showed up at his school and told all the boys they had just been drafted and they should get on the trucks outside. He got a weeks training and then was tossed in against the Ruskies. He said the kids all talked & decided there was no way they would be taken by Russians so the first chance they got they headed West as fast as they could. He was ‘captured’ by an English officer who made him his houseboy. He was lucky as he did not suffer like many did post-war. He had to run again as his town ended up in the East and he was slated for a work camp. He ended up in West Germany while his parents were in the East.

    Not really much game to discuss – do they bet an over/under in futbol?

  102. 102.

    Amir Khalid

    People were complaining about how cagey the knockout-stage matches had become, so as a football deity I figured I should do something.

  105. 105.

    piratedan

    we’ve officially reached the bugs bunny stage of the tournament, Germany scoring at will on Brazil at Brazil…

  106. 106.

    Tripod

    Maybe Loew should sub his three now. No point in getting anyone hurt by an angry and frustrated home side.

  110. 110.

    Tony J

    The last four goals have simply been handed to Germany. The only thing left for Brazil is to try and salvage their pride, but I can’t see anyone on the pitch remotely capable of rising to the occasion. Shambolic doesn’t even start to cover it, the Brazilians look like they just want to get off the pitch.

  112. 112.

    Heliopause

    Mercy Rule.

    Going into this final four I thought Brazil looked the weakest, most vulnerable of the group. For once I was right, but this is ridiculous.

  117. 117.

    Alex S.

    @Patricia Kayden:

    Indeed. Things like that aren’t supposed to happen. Although…. it happened twice, in the semi-finals of the 1930 World Cup. But to have it happen to Brazil…

  119. 119.

    burnspbesq

    I was expecting to see some blowouts this week, but I was expecting to see them in the group stage of the world lacrosse championship. Not this. No way.

  120. 120.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    Hopefully the fourth line gets some time on the power play.

  121. 121.

    Tripod

    I don’t know why the morons in the ESPN booth are pretending there is still a game on. Unless Brazil decides to be assholes about it, the remainder of the game is a training session.

  122. 122.

    HumboldtBlue

    For a moment I almost felt a bit sorry for the Brazilians, but then I came to my senses. They are getting what they deserve, they have been on the edge since the opening game and it’s caught them here in the final four.

  123. 123.

    burnspbesq

    Macca sounds like his sense of football aesthetics is being offended by this lame effort by Brazil. I think. My Scouse is better than my French, but it isn’t all that good.

  124. 124.

    Amir Khalid

    If Germany score a sixth goal, it seems rather unlikely Brazil can come back.

  125. 125.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    @Tony J: Agreed. The scoreline doesn’t tell us much about die Mannschaft other that they can accept gifts.

  127. 127.

    Steeplejack

    @Tripod:

    Well, they have to sit there for the next 80 minutes and talk about something, so what do you suggest?

  131. 131.

    HumboldtBlue

    The shot of the 11-year old boy crying into his soda cup is heart-wrenching and I feel for him. I know what it’s like to be a boy as your team fails in such fashion, comes with being a sports fan.

  133. 133.

    mali muso

    omg. just. wow. I thought I would go to the gym and squeeze in a quick workout before going home. Nothing happens in the first 20 minutes anyways, right? Holy hell was I wrong! This is a total rout.

    ETA: So, is there no “uncle” rule? Can they just call it quits and go home?

  134. 134.

    Tripod

    @Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN):

    Which brings us back to the near unintelligible blather on ESPN – I wish Kasey Keller was doing color. At least then you’d know if Loew & Co. found something and ruthlessly exploited it.

  135. 135.

    Steeplejack

    “Divorced parents trade accusations” on Dr. Phil. “Accused of destroying a rental property” on Judge Judy. Hmm . . .

    Ah! The Big Steal on TCM. Somehow that title seems apropos.

  137. 137.

    HumboldtBlue

    @Steeplejack: I had just finished watching a documentary about the Falklands war before the start of the game. That confrontation was much closer than this one will ever be.

  138. 138.

    Tripod

    @Steeplejack:

    Oh I don’t know, anything really. Georgie Best, the 1986 FA Cup, the 1979 NASL playoffs, MLS promotion-relegation….

  140. 140.

    Valdivia

    This is even more brutal than the 4-1 win against Argentina in 2010. It took them the whole game to score all of those. Just woo.

  145. 145.

    Randy Paul aka Randinho

    @raven: Right now it’s very quiet here in Vitoria. There would be much more craziness if Brazil won 5-0 and went to the final. More pissing and moaning than anything else.

  147. 147.

    Steeplejack

    I don’t think even the “Did we give up when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?!” speech gets the Brazilians out of this one. The Germans have bombed Pearl Harbor, blown up the Maine and sacked Rome.

  148. 148.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    @smintheus: It was a few years back. I admit that I don’t know if that’s true in the NHL but it’s been that way for at least five years in the NCAA.

  149. 149.

    raven

    @burnspbesq: At least you don’t get these local ads in Atlanta from this douchebag Bryant Wright that gives “right from my heart” bible talks.

  152. 152.

    Amir Khalid

    I wonder what Big Phil is going to do about this. He can only sub three players onto the field.

    Fun fact: at the UEFA Champions League final in 2005, Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez was so flustered at being 3-0 down at the break that he mistakenly sent 12 players on for the second half. Fortunately, the mistake was caught before they took to the field.

  153. 153.

    Tony J

    @Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN):

    The Germans have been efficient, everyone has done their job and done it well. Some of their play has been lovely to watch, but it’s all been overwhelmed by the sheer awfulness of Brazil’s performance.

    Other than maybe Oscar and – despite the score line – the keeper, not a single guy in yellow deserves to wear that shirt.

  154. 154.

    smintheus

    @HumboldtBlue: Their defense is terrible in large part because Silva disqualified himself with a jerk move to interfere with the Colombian keeper. Well deserved.

  156. 156.

    HumboldtBlue

    @Randy Paul aka Randinho: There is still a chance we will have an all-European final in South America.

    International football has changed dramatically since the start of the 21st century.

  157. 157.

    burnspbesq

    The way Brazil is playing today, they would be in trouble against Canada.

  164. 164.

    dmsilev

    Two bits picked from Twitter, via the NYT liveblog:

    ““Perhaps the most sickening thing for Brazil,” writes Rat Soni on Twitter; “they are eliciting pity from an American.””

    God’s account (@TheTweetOfGod) has chimed in with what surely must be the definitive word: “Stop praying to Me, Brazil. Even I can’t help you now.”

  165. 165.

    burnspbesq

    I wouldn’t mind seeing Brazil get three back, just to cause a little panic.

  166. 166.

    Valdivia

    @Emma:
    I remember in the last WC Brazil had already been eliminated when Argentina got that 4-0 blowout at the hands of the Germans. The Brazilian press was hilarious to read. Schadenfreude galore! Watch the Argentinian press tonight. I’ll be curious to know how they cover it.

  169. 169.

    Betty Cracker

    Via a Gawker commenter:

    I am experiencing a feeling of great pleasure from Brazil’s humiliation….if only there was a word in German that precisely defined this emotion.

    Heh.

  170. 170.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    Oh, look. Neuer makes a save. Brazil has come out hard so far in the second half. It’s way too late, but good to see.

  171. 171.

    Amir Khalid

    @Valdivia:
    It seems the hosts completely forgot to hold a one minute’s silence for Alfredo Di Stefano, the Argentine-born football legend who died yesterday in Madrid. That sort of thing does provoke karma, y’know.

  172. 172.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    Now it’s Germany’s turn to look really sloppy but Neuer is making some huge saves.

  174. 174.

    SRW1

    So now Brazil wants Neuer to have an opportunity to earn the nommination as the goalie in the team of the tournament.

  176. 176.

    Amir Khalid

    Check out the Guardian live-blog. The photo of Christ the Redeemer face-palming in the 9:51 BST post is priceless.

  178. 178.

    burnspbesq

    When the announcers start talking transfer rumors, we’re officially in garbage time.

  179. 179.

    Tony J

    Christ Akimbo! Brazil have come out and played better in the first 5 mins than they did in the entire first half. They could, probably should, have got two (make that three) goals back already, but the German keeper is proving to be touched by Amir.

    That’s got to hurt. Germany are almost certain to score again once the first Brazilian adrenaline rush starts to ebb and their heads drop.

  180. 180.

    Schlemizel

    @MikeJ:
    I so want Nasi Gorang like my mom used t make but none of the places here offer it. The closest is Nasi Lampak.

  182. 182.

    burnspbesq

    Julio Cesar must be looking forward to getting back behind that stalwart Toronto FC defense.

  183. 183.

    mali muso

    @Schlemizel: Mmmm, I made some nasi goreng last night, but it never tastes like I remember it growing up. (Lived in Indonesia from ages 3-16). I could really go for some proper sate ayam right about now.

  185. 185.

    Tony J

    @Valdivia:

    Sans Messi, I could see the Dutch doing something like this to what is otherwise a deeply average Argentine team. Even with him the Argentine press had better get their schadenfreude in quickly, because their place in the final is far from guaranteed.

  191. 191.

    lol chikinburd

    Cesar’s been far and away Brazil’s best player today. Says a lot for a goalkeeper whose team are losing 5 6-0. (Mostly about his back four, and his midfield, and his center-forward, and…)

  197. 197.

    burnspbesq

    That crowd sounds like the Jets just gave up another TD pass to the Patriots.

  198. 198.

    Alex S.

    @Tony J:

    Though Di Maria will be missing. I think that makes it easier for the Dutch. Not quite without-Silva-easy, though.

  199. 199.

    Amir Khalid

    That’s the host team, the national team with five World Cup champion’s stars on their shirt, half a dozen goals down. HALF A DOZEN GOALS down.

    Don’t ever piss me off.

  208. 208.

    Cacti

    I’m a big time homer for Brazil, but I felt like Germany had the better team even with Brazil at full strength.

    This year’s Selecao was probably the least talented and most untested squad Brazil has fielded in the last 20 years.

    Surprised by the margin but not by the outcome.

  213. 213.

    Tony J

    @Alex S.:

    Agreed. Argentina have been (Messi aside) just generally unimpressive, but before tonight I’d have said that about Brazil. The Dutch should be able to see them off over the 90.

    Bloody hell, 7-0, and the goal of the night. So far.

  219. 219.

    pete

    @scav: Better see some proper humility from the Germans between now and the final, or heaven Amir knows how they’ll pay. Do you think sacrifices would help?

  221. 221.

    The Dangerman

    I assume Brazil’s current Coach will soon be Brazil’s former Coach?

  223. 223.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    From Ricky Gervais: “This won’t be the first time that thousands of Germans will have to lie low in Brazil for a while for their own safety.”

  224. 224.

    pseudonymous in nc

    In Britain, they’d now be spelling this out as SEVEN to show it wasn’t a typo.

  225. 225.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    @pete: Only if they sacrifice money by putting it in an envelope and mailing it to him.

  226. 226.

    IM

    In a few minutes, it will be quite outside my window. And I can’t really complain.

  230. 230.

    smintheus

    The really embarrassing thing is that, if the Germans were down by 7 goals at the 85 minute mark, they’d still be a threat to tie it up against this Brazilian squad.

  231. 231.

    Alex S.

    I guess it was over with the second goal. Brazil began well, but Germany also defended well. Then there were a couple of nervous minutes, but Germany woke up first and scored. Then Brazil became even more nervous and the second goal defeated them, with the additional shock that Klose took the record away from Ronaldo. Then the game was basically over and all the pressure on the Brazilians broke them apart.

  232. 232.

    kindness

    This is just a Holy Shit game.

    Wouldn’t want to be a drunk Yankee in Brazil tonight.

  236. 236.

    Valdivia

    @Tony J:

    Well we have the Dutch a hard time and took them to penalties so you really can’t just assume they’ll roll the Argentinians.

  238. 238.

    Felanius Kootea

    The referee should just please stop the game. No stoppage time at least. Oh my God. I hope the Brazilian team has an armed guard.

  239. 239.

    burnspbesq

    You might get this scoreline in a FA Cup third round match between a Premier League team and a bunch of part-timers from the Combined Counties League South.

  240. 240.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    @Cacti: Maybe farther than they should have gone, but Scolari is the guy who kept putting Fred out on the pitch.

  241. 241.

    burnspbesq

    From the Guardian liveblog:

    [David Luiz] looks like some hungover git from the Dog & Duck who’s won a competition to play in a World Cup semi-final for Brazil

  246. 246.

    mali muso

    Brazil gets one in the very last moment! The Univision GOALLLLL yell feels a little hollow and peremptory.

  248. 248.

    SRW1

    I wonder whether there is a doofus on this planet who actually placed a bet on a 7-1 for Germany and made an absolute killing tonight?

  250. 250.

    Patricia Kayden

    Wonder why several of the Brazilian players are praying after such a slaughter. Interesting.

  251. 251.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    And the final whistle brings a merciful end to the Massacre at Belo Horizante.

  252. 252.

    lol chikinburd

    You know it’s not Özil’s tournament when he couldn’t score on Brazil.

  253. 253.

    Cacti

    @Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN):

    Maybe farther than they should have gone, but Scolari is the guy who kept putting Fred out on the pitch

    This year was one of those years where you play with the team you have, not the one one you wish you had. There was no Pele, Ronaldo, Jairzinho, Garrincha, or Rivaldo to be found on this year’s Selecao. Instead, it was Fred and Hulk.

  254. 254.

    burnspbesq

    Oscar and Draxler look like should be doing their algebra homework instead of playing in a World Cup.

  255. 255.

    Amir Khalid

    @Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN):
    Germany aren’t pleased that they conceded, even if it was too late to do Brazil any good. But at this point, it’s academic. 7-1 is still the biggest pasting ever handed out in the history of World Cup semi-finals.

  256. 256.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    From the Guardian: “It’s a measure of how downright German the Germans are that Manuel Neuer and his defenders were absolutely furious with each other for allowing Brazil to score that late goal.”

  257. 257.

    Amir Khalid

    @SRW1:
    I’m pretty sure someone did that and is now about to enjoy the generosity of my blessings. Someone did bet on Luis Suarez biting an opponent, and that worked out well for them.

  260. 260.

    Cacti

    Well, looks like the 1950 Selecao can breath a sigh of relief at having been replaced for the worst moment in Brazilian World Cup history.

  262. 262.

    Amir Khalid

    Unless someone gets hammered 8-0 tomorrow, this is going to be the unexpected thrashing of the World Cup. Brazil lost a great deal of face today, and they’ll need to win the third-place match to make a start on regaining it.

  263. 263.

    Tony J

    @Valdivia:

    It’s not guaranteed, but Costa Rica were consistently hard working, played as a team and earned that penalty shoot-out. I just don’t see that with Argentina. They rely almost entirely on Messi and if he gets closely marked out of the game the Dutch should edge it.

    That said, he is Messi, and he is a magician. He could win the game all on his own.

  266. 266.

    Cacti

    @Tony J:

    That said, he is Messi, and he is a magician. He could win the game all on his own.

    It would be entirely in character if the Dutch tried to take him out of the game.

  271. 271.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    @Schlemizel:

    I know there have been blow outs in the opening rounds but how often are 7 goals scored in game this late in the Cup., let alone by one side?

    It’s happened once. Today.

  273. 273.

    Schlemizel

    @IM:
    I quit being a Vikings fan about 30 years ago but before that I could probably have worked up some sympathy for the Brazil side. Somehow this was a Superbowl level performance, a game generally making nap time preferable by half-time

  276. 276.

    IM

    @Schlemizel:

    After the 0:5 I shifted m sympathy to Brasil.

    I should have done it earlier, but everything between the second and the fifth goal happened so fast.

  279. 279.

    Cacti

    @Schlemizel:

    I know there have been blow outs in the opening rounds but how often are 7 goals scored in game this late in the Cup., let alone by one side?

    It’s without equal.

    The closest parallel in US sports would be the 55-10 pasting that the 49ers laid on the Broncos in Super Bowl 24.

  280. 280.

    Schlemizel

    @Cacti:
    I really lost all interest in football several years ago but it seems to be that close, exciting Stuperbowls are the exception. Perhaps not 7-1 lopsided but over by halftime more often than not. Even when the score ends close it seemed like there was not much doubt. This was an actual pounding on that sort of scale; by the end of the first quarter it was obviously out of reach.

  281. 281.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    @Schlemizel: Actually, at the quarter mark today it was still 1-0. It’s just that at the third mark it was 5-0.

  282. 282.

    IM

    @Cacti:

    The record win of the german team was 8:0 against Saudi-Arabia. Saudi-Arabia.

    You see the problem?

  283. 283.

    Tripod

    @Schlemizel:

    Single elimination sucks. Games get out of hand, and that becomes representative of the quality of the competing sides. The better team is also less likely to be upset over a multi-game series.

  284. 284.

    Valdivia

    @Tony J:
    I agree with your analysis completely. It’s interesting to see these teams that rely on just one star player instead of working as a team. We’ll see what happens! :)

  285. 285.

    pseudonymous in nc

    @Tripod:

    Single elimination sucks.

    Blah blah blah. The domestic leagues provide a complete schedule. This is the World Cup.

    There are not many occasions when a football team gets found out, but when that happens, it’s memorable. It’s happened twice here: first with Spain, now with Brazil.

  286. 286.

    pseudonymous in nc

    @Tripod:

    Single elimination sucks.

    Blah blah blah. The domestic leagues provide a complete schedule. This is the World Cup.

    There are not many occasions when a football team gets found out, but when that happens, it’s memorable. It’s happened twice here: first with Spain, now with Brazil.

  288. 288.

    Tony J

    @Randy Paul aka Randinho:

    Well, if they’ve got any sense at all the Argentinians will look at what happened tonight and recognise that a lot of them need to raise their game if they want to face Germany in the final. The question is – can – they raise their game, or are they already playing out of their skins and we just don’t realise it because, y’know, that’s kind of sad in the context of an Argentine World Cup squad.

    Good thing about all this, we’ll see really soon.

  289. 289.

    Tony J

    @Cacti:

    I don’t doubt it for a second. But one of the things about Messi, when he’s on his game (which he seems to be) it’s as hard to foul him as it is to dispossess him, and it’s frigging impossible to do it without making it obvious you deserve a card. What price an Argentina sans Messi if the Dutch have to play the rest of the game with 10 or even 9 men?

  290. 290.

    Tony J

    @Valdivia:

    We will indeed. Got to say, though, I really did not expect an all European final in this World Cup. I’m half hoping the Argentinians pull it out just to avoid one, but I can’t see it.

    Same time tomorrow, lady.

  292. 292.

    pseudonymous in nc

    Miguel Delaney, who writes for ESPN and some Irish papers, predicted that it would be the worst defeat for a home nation in the history of the World Cup. He made that prediction two days ago. He wrote this tonight:

    The frenzy the entire country worked itself into saw the equal but opposite reaction on this pitch. Once the deeper problems were exposed, it all gave way. Brazil are not this bad. They are not 7-1 bad. This was about something else.

    His consistent argument was that Brazil’s performance was underpinned by emotion — the effort to bring the World Cup back and exorcise the demons of 1950, the sacrifices imposed upon ordinary Brazilians — and when that cracked, there was nothing.

    And now you have a nation in shock that has to face playing in the wretched obligation of the 3rd/4th place playoff, with the prospect of Argentina lifting the trophy in the Maracana. I sort of hope the Dutch win tomorrow.

  293. 293.

    Elie

    @pseudonymous in nc:

    ..powerful analysis and insight you give…..whoa–

    Powerful most of all for the politics of this. Specifically:

    “a nation in shock that has to face playing in the wretched obligation of the 3rd/4th place playoff, with the prospect of Argentina lifting the trophy in the Maracana”.. Lots of shit flowing down from those favelas razed in preparation for the coronation that did not occur. Poor Brasil — place of my birth. You can’t skip steps to become the nation that you want to be. You will have to work it the long way around… but that is for the better. I totally respect how many Brazilians protested and beared witness to how so much money was spent without benefit to the people. I wish them strength to continue. Futball is a minor issue but helps to place some traction on much more important things..

    From such things, revolutions are made….

  295. 295.

    Paul in KY

    @Cacti: The goalie on that 1950 team was reminded about it every day of his life. His nickname was ‘the man who made Brasil cry’. He’s dead now, but I guess his soul can finally rest as a new generation will get his treatment for the rest of their lives.

  296. 296.

    Paul in KY

    @Cacti: The Cowboys put an epic pasting on the Patriots back in the 90s. This is beyond that, I think.

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