Brazil doing it the hard way but getting it right

EVEN BEFORE a ball had been kicked, Brazil, as the host nation for the 2014 Fifa World Cup, was under pressure to deliver success on and off the field. Gradually, as the tournament sets new records, Brazilians and visiting fans, whose teams are still in the competition as well as billions watching on TV around the world, are enjoying some eye-catching football being served by the players. The Government of Brazil faced strong opposition from their citizens for hosting the World Cup but somehow the tournament has passed almost trouble-free, save for pockets of protesters, who still want their government to listen to their grievances. On the field, the Samba Boys are limping towards the business end of the competition after becoming the first team through to the last eight following their win over Chile 3-2 on shoot outs in the round of 16. Filipe Scolari’s team are going about their business the hard way since the opening game of the tournament against Croatia, which they won under controversial circumstances—a penalty that wasn’t, and Neymar escaping red card. It’s only against Cameroon, the weakest team in Group A, that Brazil played without their backs on the wall and won comfortably 4-1. But against Chile on Saturday, the hosts played like real survivors and they had their experienced goalkeeper Julio Cesar, who made two critical saves in a tie-breaker shoot out to thank. And a clash against another South American rival Colombia in the quarterfinals, presents Brazil a neat opportunity to continue hobbling towards a record extending sixth world title. The Colombians eliminated Uruguay 2-0 to further add salt to the latter’s injury of missing their star talisman Luis Suarez, whose story about biting opponents we can save for another day.

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Brazil doing it the hard way but getting it right