The End Justifies the Means

It may seem strange that I am discussing “the end” after just two World Cup groups have had their opening round of matches, but this World Cup happens to be in Brazil. See, over the years Brazilian fans have been generally recognized as the ultimate purists, concerned not only about winning games but how they win them. If Dani Alve’s pregame battle cry had helped build their anticipation for this world cup, the first 60 minutes of Brazil’s exchanges against Croatia did more to put a touch of reality. This was affirmed by the Brazilian press uniting in celebration of a star that had a lucky scuffed shot and dodgy penalty decision to thank for their opening round victory. Little wonder Neymar was modest enough to make sure he shook referee Yuichi Nishimura’s hand before leaving the field for his substitution. All that truly mattered, at least for this first game, was that Brazil found a way of recording victory!

Speaking of referees, football is one sport that has long held a strong line against technology, using the argument that controversial decisions are part of the game’s appeal. Well, the referees for Group A’s opening round of matches were accordingly determined to upstage each other in causing controversy. Fortunately for Mexico, the Columbian referee’s two controversially denied goals were not enough to prevent the victory that their dominant performance merited.

Back to the purists, having been denied the show of artistry that past Brazilian teams have got them accustomed to, we were left to second guess the motivation for the vocal Brazilian fans in Salvador for the Group B opener. Given the lavish praise that Brazilian football officials have heaped on Spanish football as they worked to build an even silkier Brazilian team to dethrone them, we could be excused for thinking that the fans were drawn in to watch a demonstration the style they covet. The fans however seemed more intent on booing every touch that lost son Diego Costa made during the game.

 Switching to Diego Costa, one can’t help but wonder whether the Brazilians only truly wanted him when they realized that they could lose him to their major threat, Spain. Brazilian coach Scolari had after all only played Costa in two friendly games and seemed to favor Fred and Jo as his center forwards. The promise of a staggering 720,000 euros each in bonuses for the Spanish team players if they win the World Cup may throw more weight behind claims in Brazil that Costa’s switching of allegiances was more financially motivated than strategic to gain playing time for a team that truly wanted him. What cannot be discounted though is that he has finally made a World Cup appearance!

 On the subject of strategy, Australia is one team that brilliantly found a way of ensuring routine qualification to the world cup by switching allegiance from Oceania to Asia qualifying region. Having missed out on eight consecutive world cup editions, Australia now find themselves at their third consecutive world cup!

 Australia may only be the tournament’s lowest ranked team but they definitely played with more pride than the number one ranked La Roja did in their respective world cup openers. In a repeat of the last World Cup’s final, Netherlands found a way of putting the record right by not only delivering a thumping 5:1 victory against the defending champions, but delivering it with the style that has led many to label the “best footballing nation to never win a World Cup.” The brilliance of Robben and van Persie provided the Dutch with the means to not only avenge the defeat that has haunted them over the last four years, but enjoy the luxury of doing it with the style they believe “Orange” should be associated with!