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THIRD EYE

Not as good as it seems for Brazil

Al-Amin
After Brazil's 4-1 win against Cameroon Monday night a lot of people will feel that the Selecao have finally come to the party in the irrepressible fashion that is expected of them. In scoring terms they have definitely entertained the world audience on a night where as many as 14 goals were scored in four games. But for a loyal Brazil follower the performance marked just a slight improvement from their first two games and definitely not one for others to follow. Fred did score a goal which could have been easily ruled off side. Oscar was again below par and midfielder Paulinho was miserable before being withdrawn at the end of the first 45 minutes during which an otherwise lifeless Cameroon side, with two previous forgettable encounters, looked like a team to take the game away.
The only difference between the two sides was Neymar. The bundle of talent not only enjoyed (the rest at times seemed to be suffering from stage fright) his third game on the trot but also produced two clinical finishes. His first goal was a perfect placement
of a magnificent pass from Luis Gustavo. His second was a masterstroke. But here is the crux of the problem with Brazil. The team is too reliant on a particular player as is the case with Argentina.
Historically, Argentina have banked heavily on individual brilliance. But this has never been the case with Brazil, which over the years have presented the world a magnificent group of players. Pele might be the greatest Brazilian ever to grace a football field or a toothy Rolando better known as El Phenomenon. But even in the eras when the aforementioned rule they produced equally magnificent players like a Garrincha, a Socrates, a Romario et al. However, if we are to accept the cliche that change is the most unchangeable aspect of life we may have to live with the fact that Brazil's title ambitions will depend solely on Neymar's performance as Argentina's will on Messi's.
In the group stages every team has a chance to make amends for mistakes. But with the knockout stage knocking at the door, Brazil can ill afford those mistakes committed in the first three games. On Monday the defence looked vulnerable and it is time for Danny
Alves to look into his comical errors instead of spitting venom at his critics like Alan Shearer. The good news for Brazil is that Fernandinho, coming in as a second-half replacement for Paulinho, lent the solidity and flair that Brazil desperately need. And it would be a crime if he dose not start in Brazil's round of 16 clash with Chile on Saturday.
The Dutch continue to impress with Arjen Robben perhaps seemingly running as fast as a Usain Bolt.
Amidst the euphoria of this high-octane World Cup one team bowed out quietly in Curitiba, marking the end of a successful era of tiki-taka. It is not only a sad day for Spain but a day the football world will reflect with a heavy heart about a brand of football that Andre Iniesta and Co preached with great authority. It is a kind of football that captivated the world for the best part of this decade. Sadly though, people are questioning the sustainability of tiki-taka instead of asking if there is any team in the world that has the ability to master this great art that made football richer. We will have to wait for an answer come the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Long live La Roja.