BRAZILIANS FEAR their team could suffer another thrashing when they face the Netherlands in the battle for third place at the 2014 Fifa World Cup at Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha in the capital Brasilia tonight.

Once beaten, twice shy goes the old adage, which why, following the 7-1 humiliation the Samba Boys suffered against Germany in the semi-final, the home fans have every reason to be wary of what could happen to their demoralized team.

It’s a game that means so little to both teams but when the two sets of players set foot onto the field each will try to give as much as they take. 

"It will be another disaster if we were to lose heavily against the Dutch, which is possible after what happened in the semi-final,” said 25-year old Elisma. 

It’s official, today’s game is the last for the Netherlands coach Louis Van Gaal, who takes over at English Premier League side Manchester United after the tournament, as is for his Brazil counterpart, Luiz Felipe Scolari, whose future remains uncertain.

Scolari, who led Brazil to their fifth world title back in 2002 is not a well-liked man in his country and not many will shed a tear when he leaves the job, possibly as soon as after tonight’s match. He accused of destroying the Samba Boys’ style of play. 

Both coaches are expected to make several changes for tonight’s game, giving a chance to players, who have got enough minutes on the field in this tournament after all there is not too much at stake but only a third place, which means so little to either team. 

The build-up to the game has been lukewarm back here in Brazil to say the least, however, the one thing that is certain is that both teams will try to be as professional as possible in their approach to the game, especially after the defeats in the semi-finals as neither would want to lose twice in a row.