This was purely an advertisement for football. There are fans and critics alike who decry the fact that 90 minutes can end “nil-nil,” but we’d happily watch football of this caliber for hours and hours – let alone on a stage such as this. Almost everything the beautiful game has to offer was captured in Fortaleza between the home side and a Mexican team that is peaking at precisely the right time.
Having won their first games, qualification for the knock-out stage was the reward for a win. The result was high-octane stuff from the start. Ramires started in place of the seemingly-injured Hulk for the only change to the Brazil lineup which handled Croatia, while Mexico fielded the same 11 who beat Cameroon. Any thoughts that Mexico would sit back and allow Brazil to dictate play were dispelled early in the first half. While Brazil saw more of the ball, Mexico attacked with numbers at any chance. Unfortunately for them, their long range shooting was just off – they rocketed shot after shot just over Julio Cesar’s goal.
The Turkish referee was content to let play continue at every opportunity, and he had just as wonderful a game as the two teams. Without constant restarts, the match maintained a pace and electricity that was tiring – and wonderful – to watch. His patience wore thin as he eventually showed 4 yellow cards…however, referee praise is warranted much more than it is given and it certainly was here. His wave-off of a late Marcelo penalty claim was also spot-on.
There is certainly an advantage to playing at home in a World Cup (ask England and France), but there is also a palpable level of pressure – and Brazil must have been feeling it as they lined up for the second half. Their expected dominance never came and, while they had many chances, it was Mexico who determined the pace of play, though their aim continued to let them down. The same can be said of Brazil, as they fired chance after chance within the body of Mexico’s goalie Ochoa, but that should not diminish from a man-of-the-match performance that was clearly deserved. A first-half wonder save of a Neymar header was almost equaled in the game’s dying moments as he kept an even closer-range Thiago Silva effort out. The game of his life, and the perfect time for it.
The spirit of the match was summed up by Silva’s reaction to receiving a yellow card for a hard foul on Chicharito, who entered the match in the second half. Silva could be seen saying “desculpe” as he hugged the Mexican. There was no place for histrionics – simply respect and football of the highest quality.
In the end, both teams are left with 4 points and control of their own destinies, Brazil in the slightly better position due to goal difference. Mexico must feel ecstatic – and rightfully so, especially after their disastrous qualifying campaign. Brazil are left with many questions (for example, who will pick up the slack when Neymar doesn’t score?), and the unfamiliar territory of needing a result in their 3rd group match. They’ll get it, but the inevitability of their Confederations Cup win last summer seems a distant memory. There is much work to do.
This was the match of this young tournament – a celebration of football that has been particularly offensive, positive and a joy to watch. Here’s hoping there is much, much more to come.
