Fans Dote On Unimpressive Brazil

An unimpressive Brazil still elicited oohs and aahs from dotting fans and gushing praises from ESPN commentators (and I suppose from other commentators as well) who could not find anything not to like in the lack-luster performance.

Every wayward shot on goal was declared as having a “Brazilian touch,” never mind the same commentators declaring the Netherlands’ possessive game as ultimately pointless  since it mostly does not translate into goals.

I will not be surprised if some thought that Brazil's  intercepted passes were intentionally given away to the opponent!

Such is the power of stereotype, which is well and good if you are the world’s most decorated country in soccer. If you happen to have been unlucky like the Netherlands or Spain in failing to win big competitions, your every move, no matter how impressive, is qualified by that failure.

I am so sick of the same story line that I have developed a habit of rooting for underdogs.

By the way, I was praying for a North Korean upset of the Brazilians so that the over-pampered team would be brought down from their high horses. When everyone expect Italy, Brazil, Germany, Argentina, et al, to win all the time why don’t we just award championship to any of these teams instead of bothering to hold the competition?

I believe that most who are complaining about a supposed drought of goals or lack of entertainment in the games played so far are unconsciously influenced by this fact, forgetting that the balance of power in the soccer world is becoming more even, so that the fancied big guns cannot simply waltz  their way to victory in matches any more.

I look forward to the day the playing field will be so leveled that match results will no longer be taken for granted.