The Fall of a Titan

Images by El Universo

The Netherlands eliminated yesterday the great favorite and five times champion Brazil with a 2 - 1 victory in Port Elizabeth for the quarterfinals in this 2010 FIFA World Cup. With this result, this kills Brazil's dream to become champion for a sixth time until they will host the 2014 FIFA World Cup held in Brazil. This result was the consequence of Dunga's conservative and pragmatic soccer that they have been practicing ever since he was designated as coach of the Brazilian team. Throughout the tournament, Brazil's victories silenced the many critics of Dunga, as well as legendary players Socrates and Pelé, because they were criticizing the way Dunga was not exhibiting the game that the Brazilians were practicing the 'joga bonito' prior to Dunga's designation that led to the obtaining of the World Cup titles in 1994 and 2002. Most of the Brazilian players coached by Dunga was led by the discipline gained through this process of four years, giving the team an image that Dunga wanted a style of game that gave the Brazilian players as an attacking team rather than to see it as an artistic style.

With the Brazilians, it seemed as a revenge of the elimination for the second consecutive time, after the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, where they were eliminated by France. Dunga's team was on front of the scoreboard with an effective shot from Manchester City's Robinho, but the match was turned around after Felipe Melo scored with an own goal for the Netherlands, after a magnificent free kick from Inter's Wesley Sneijder, who after scored the second goal that sentenced the Dutch victory for the first time since 1974. Brazil's elimination and failure was due to the fact that it was a team full of defenders, where the team lacked the offensive creativity needed where they needed only one man to create danger and that was Kaká, who he never recoved the level gained in 2007. Brazil played good sometimes, but unfortunately the spark was not there with the South American team. In the first half, Brazil achieved his great game and showed much superiority over the Netherlands, with a sure and confident Felipe Melo and Robinho showing effectiveness and danger along with a much active Kaká.

The first Dutch goal was due to an own goal by Bazilian Felipe Melo, this is the first time that Brazil receives an own goal in the South American team.