By half time of the "night in hell” at Belo Horizonte on Tuesday, 200 million Brazilians were convinced Germany would forever be their worst enemy henceforth, replacing both archrivals Argentina and Uruguay.

But they say the football god does not reside in Brasilia. In 1950, Uruguay beat the Samba Boys on their home turf to clinch the World Cup. It was the most painful moment in their history until Germany came smashing.

But this time round, to compound the agony, the thousands of Brazilians who turned up in Sao Paolo to cheer Netherlands against Argentina left with bitter tastes in their mouth. All the boos they directed at Messi and co. accounted for nothing as Argentina went on to win.

Argentina meeting Germany in the final in Brazil means that Brazilians will have to contend with the worst ever scenario in their football history. Their bitter rivals Germany and archrivals Argentina will play before their eyes. Their President Dilma Rousseff will be awarding the medals as well as lead the trophy presentation.

As if nursing the sty on the eyelid is not bad enough, Brazilians will have to do with boils in funny places. Does it get any painful? 

Maradona black-out

Fifa have played their cards so cruelly. They claim ‘fair play’ and flaunt it in our face but they do the opposite. For his rivalry with Pele and outspokenness against the excesses of the world soccer governing body, Maradona is effectively person non-grata in Brazil during the World Cup.

He has been forced to watch the games on television as he runs a show because Fifa denied him accreditation. Fifa appears to be worried that the outspoken but famous Argentine football ‘god’ could attract a lot of attention with his presence in Brazil as much as he would rile the section of fans who still adore Pele.

Whatever the reason, it is wrong. A legend like Maradona deserves the first box seat. We hope when the cameras pan in Maracana on Sunday, his face will grace the stadium screen and out television.