IN SPORTS, JUST LIKE in politics, there are no permanent enemies, no permanent friends but only permanent interests, so it will be interesting to see if Brazilians can emulate this famous quote and support Argentina against Germany.

Germany’s 7-1 mauling of the 2014 Fifa World Cup hosts means that most Brazilians would have no choice but to support their arch enemies Argentina in the final at the famous Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday. 

It’s a quite a tricky situation that Brazilians find themselves in but one that doesn’t need rocket science to figure out especially after what happened to their team at hands of the merciless German machine on Tuesday night. 

Brazilians and Argentineans love to hate each other when it comes to football and in a normal situation, it would be unbelievable form one to support to other, but in this case, the situation is beyond normal. 

"Ideally, we would never support each other under any circumstances, but this time, the situation is different and most Brazilians will likely be behind Argentina against Germany,” said Marco Antonio, a high school teacher in Sao Paulo. 

In the semi-final, majority of Brazilian were rooting for the Netherlands yet that did not stop Lionel Messi and co to prevail 4-2 on penalty shootouts to reach the final for the first time in 24 years since losing, ironically to Germany at Italia 90. 

According to Amourouch, another Sao Paulo native and a former footballer, he will support Argentina not because he likes them, but for the sake of wanting the World Cup trophy to stay in South America and also, he won’t stand the sight of Germany winning it after what they did to the hosts. 

"I am still in shock about that heavy defeat against the Germans, it was one of the worst days of my life and much as we (Brazilians) don’t like Argentineans, I will have no choice but to support them in the final,” said the 52-year old.

The rhetoric here is that it’s better for the trophy to remain in South America than another European team to win it. Brazil won the World Cup in 2002 but the last two editions have to Italy in 2006 and Spain four years ago in South Africa.