I found out through my friend’s status on blackberry messenger that Brazil lost to Netherlands. I didn’t see it coming at all. Neither did the commentators. Everyone thought the Netherlands was no competition and people I knew were only routing for them because they were sick of Brazil winning.
Kind of like the Lakers beating the Orlando Magics last year, Brazil seemed destined of for a major win if the Netherlands were the ones in their way.
My friend whose status referenced the Brazil’s loss is a diehard Lakers fan and I assumed that she always routed for super teams but she actually was happy to see Brazil eliminated. She didn’t like how everyone, including the Brazilian players, assumed that they were going to win. Simply put, she didn’t like their “cockiness”.
But their cockiness is justifiable: Brazil is the most successful national football team in the history of the World Cup with five championships (last one in 2002). Them making it to the semi-finals seemed like a no brainer.
Brazil’s national soccer team reminds me more and more of the Lakers, the Lakers too hold some impressive records: the most NBA Finals appearances (31) and the second-most NBA championships with 16, behind the Boston Celtics' 17. They even hold the record for the longest winning streak in U.S. professional team sports at 33.
With all those records, and their recent back to back championship, it’s hard to believe that anyone would be hoping for them to fall next season, but their cockiness makes it easy for us to hate.
It seems like Brazil might be starting to suffer from “let’s hate on the best” too. They have dominated the sport in some aspects and the only thing they are missing to truly make hating on them effortless is a Kobe-esque player, smug personality and all. Things have been said about former players like Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and even the “King of Football”, Pelé but nothing compares to the hate that is spewed at Kobe (which I also dish out regularly).
Brazil’s current roster is decent, with Robinho and even Lúcio, so while they are out for now, no one can seriously count them out of international competition. At least Brazil’s lost hasn’t been taken as hard as France or Nigeria’s, with Politian’s stepping in to reprimand the teams after their losses.
Now I will be watching the World Cup to see just how far the Netherlands will make it. Between Spain, Germany, Uruguay and the Netherlands in the semi-finals, I am routing for Germany.
