Confederations Cup Brazil-South Africa: Hollow Victory

For a world still reeling in shock from the result of the first semifinal between USA and Spain, the disgraceful effort put in by Brazil against South Africa was almost too much to bear. 

Even as I write, the tremors have still not quite subsided.

Unfortunately there are no pills that can effectively get rid of the bitter aftertaste of knowing you have watched a match in which the better team has shown no sign that they have been putting in their strongest effort.

I don't want to be responsible for starting any conspiracy-theory style rumors, but this was a match in which Brazil were heading toward their third goalless draw against a clearly inferior opponent.

The other two were both home games, and the opponents were Bolivia and Colombia, either of which could be expected to play well against South Africa.

It was only a free kick awarded with just a couple of minutes left on the clock that broke the stalemate. This was put in the net by Daniel Alves, who had come onto the ground just minutes earlier as a substitute for Andre Santos.

Crazy theories notwithstanding, there can be no doubt that the game we saw was not the one we had paid to see. 

To the credit of the South Africans, they played to at least their usual standard, which means the best that they are able to perform. Sadly, the same cannot truthfully be said of the Brazilian team.

When the final whistle blew, the score was 1-0. The only sight which was not unusual was the Brazilian team celebrating, while their opponents were left to trudge sadly off the field. 

The hopes and dreams of the South African team may have been shredded, but at least they can hold their heads up proudly and know that they fought hard and were not intimidated by the reputation of their opponent.

How could the Brazilians celebrate this hollow victory? 

It would have been far more appropriate for them to have gone around the stands and personally apologized to each and every football fan who had paid good money to see a real football game between Brazil and South Africa rather than the sorry excuse for a football game that we did see.

If the effort from the Brazilian team in this match was honestly the best they could muster, then this should be very heartening to the US team. Never has there been more promise of the United States lifting a major international trophy.

This Brazilian team seems to run hot and cold. Bob Bradley and his team will be hoping the heat stays off. 

Dunga, meanwhile, will need to examine this match closely and figure out just where his team went wrong today.

If he fails, then the final match on Sunday is one you cannot afford to miss.