2014 FIFA World Cup

[dbadefense1990]

Still not the most pathetic World Cup exit.

You're welcome, Brazil.

Oh no, what happened tonight was worse. France was doomed from that point-on because only Zidane couldn't keep his cool. And the game was in neutral territory (France vs. Italy in Berlin).

This is in contrast to tonight, because it took an entire Brazilian team effort to effectively derp their championship hopes away, all in a matter of 10 minutes. And they were at home of all places completing such a crapfest.

The real question is this: which Maracanazo was worse? Tonight, or the one in 1950?

[OMMF]

Did anyone set up an ESPN bracket?

I was the only one to pick a Germany-Netherlands final. If Oranje wins tomorrow, I'll win the CCSLC group. Hup Holland Hup!

[Naoned Pride]

Should we really be feeling sorry for these over-emotional Brazil fans? This is our equivalent to Yankees fans spilling tears after being swept in the ALCS.

Over-emotional ?

Their national team plays a semi-final, in a World Cup - aka Biggest Sporting Event on the Planet, at home, with argueably close to 1 Billion people watching this very game. And they get hu-mi-lia-ted. Not only as a team, no, as a whole country.

Plus, these specific fans on TV have bought overpriced tickets with the hope of witnessing one of the biggest moment of joy a country could ever dream of, and they get their hopes crushed in 30 minutes.

I can't not feel bad when I see this because I was in the very same situation back in 2006, when Italy beat us in the World Cup final. The hope of an entire nation crushed by on single shoot on a crossbar. I cried my eyes out that night, and still have a small heartache when I think about it.

Let's also not forget the fact that their :censored:ty politicians put on a scandalous way of setting this WC, with cops going berzerk on everything that moved, people getting kicked out of their home to build fan zones and the massive riots that occured throughout 2013 and 2014. And it all comes down to a worldwide humiliation.

I don't call that over-emotional.

In fact, for once, it was not "just a game".

[The_Admiral]

Bailey JD Porter

‏@ichlugebullets

"We killed all those slum children for this?"

[Midway]

I feel no pity for Brazil. As meaningful as the sport is to their country, at the end of the day there's winners and there's losers. Yesterday they were losers to simply a better team. Let's not lose some sense of civility for that fact and just acknowledge that life isn't scripted to anyones liking. It's been an amazing tournament and that alone is enough reason to celebrate how far they advanced.

[Unocal]

It's the expectations that made the fall so much worse.

When Uruguay made the semis in the 2010 WC, that was their deepest advancement in decades when they were a long shot to make the last 4.

Brazil was the public/betting favorite even thought this isn't a Kaka/Ronaldinho vintage.

Expectations make semifinal defeats more or less bitter to stomach.

Turkey and South Korea making the '02 semis was something to celebrate. Germany in 2006-2010 was a failure.

This for Brazil is a monumental letdown.

Not just the loss and how they lost, but THEY HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER 4 YEARS FOR REDEMPTION!

Imagine if the Denver Broncos or Anaheim Ducks had to wait years plural to redeem themselves after how their seasons ended this year.

[DarkJourney]

Watching the replay of Brazil-Germany as we speak. 9 hours later and I'm still stunned at the way Germany systematically took Brazil apart. Many will disagree with me but the passion that Brazilians have for their football club dwarfs the passion we Americans have for any professional or college sports in the United States.

[rainmaker17]

Watching the replay of Brazil-Germany as we speak. 9 hours later and I'm still stunned at the way Germany systematically took Brazil apart. Many will disagree with me but the passion that Brazilians have for their football club dwarfs the passion we Americans have for any professional or college sports in the United States.

Falling apart and crying doesn't equate "better passion" which is why I posted a lot of people are more sick of soccer fans than the sport itself. I was really, really bummed when Nelson Cruz dropped that fly ball in the 2011 World Series. It meant a lot here. The Texas Rangers would have won their first ever title EVER. I didn't lose my mind and cry on youtube. I hugged the same buddies I've had since childhood, and we shook our heads. It sucked, and I still think about it from time to time. I'm equally as good of a fan of my team as the Brazilians are of their team.

[DarkJourney]

I'm equally as good of a fan of my team as the Brazilians are of their team.

I'm sure you love the Texas Rangers and I won't question your passion for them but I respectfully disagree with your statement. We'll agree to disagree. No harm. No foul.

[rainmaker17]

I'm equally as good of a fan of my team as the Brazilians are of their team.

I'm sure you love the Texas Rangers and I won't question your passion for them but I respectfully disagree with your statement. We'll agree to disagree. No harm. No foul.

Care to explain? I'm just sick of "it means more when it's soccer."

[IanC]

Soccer/Football is like a religion in Brazil which is far more than supporting a team. It is a way of life. That's why it is so emotional to them. They live and breathe the whole sport.

[DarkJourney]

Soccer/Football is like a religion in Brazil which is far more than supporting a team. It is a way of life. That's why it is so emotional to them. They live and breathe the whole sport.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[FiddySicks]

Did anyone set up an ESPN bracket?

I was the only one to pick a Germany-Netherlands final. If Oranje wins tomorrow, I'll win the CCSLC group. Hup Holland Hup!

That was my pick from the very beginning as well, with Germany winning it all. They seem SO due for a championship considering how close they've gotten over the the past few World Cups.

[rainmaker17]

Soccer/Football is like a religion in Brazil which is far more than supporting a team. It is a way of life. That's why it is so emotional to them. They live and breathe the whole sport.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

I respect that, honestly. And thank you for the insight. The problem I have is it still falls into a weird elitist "get it" thing? I like all Dallas, TX teams. If one or all of them loses something, the city doesn't shut down in mourning. Living and breathing a sport doesn't make it a better sport.

[ninersdd]

In Brazil and other countries, for the most part they just like soccer and the Cup happens every 4 years. They mostly don't have other sports/teams to root for like we do.

[IanC]

Also another reason why they have such a connection to the sport is because alot of players come from the favelas and poverty. It is the only way out if you are in that way of life. Thats why it has an emotional attachement to most of the poor in Brazil. They hate to see thier own fail.

It is alright sitting in front of a big 60 inch screen at home with a beer and doritos and supporting a team. That wont give you an emotional attachment. Those Brazilians who are poor have nothing else and do not have the luxuries and they only have soccer to dream about.

[rainmaker17]

In Brazil and other countries, for the most part they just like soccer and the Cup happens every 4 years. They mostly don't have other sports/teams to root for like we do.

What's your point? It's more rare? To me, it seemed like they were planning parade routes the entire Cup. When it didn't happen they flipped out.

"they just like soccer and the Cup."

You're killing me.

[rainmaker17]

Also another reason why they have such a connection to the sport is because alot of players come from the favelas and poverty. It is the only way out if you are in that way of life. Thats why it has an emotional attachement to most of the poor in Brazil. They hate to see thier own fail.

It is alright sitting in front of a big 60 inch screen at home with a beer and doritos and supporting a team. That wont give you an emotional attachment. Those Brazilians who are poor have nothing else and do not have the luxuries and they only have soccer to dream about.

Fine. So people who like Doritos and beer suck? Bad question, they probably do. My parents were longtime Cowboys ticket holders, and I was the dumb little kid with the nerf ball during the tailgating. I had the time of my life.

Besides the obvious jokes….I never claimed to be impoverished or suffering for anything. Is that what it it takes to be a legit fan?

[IanC]

Also another reason why they have such a connection to the sport is because alot of players come from the favelas and poverty. It is the only way out if you are in that way of life. Thats why it has an emotional attachement to most of the poor in Brazil. They hate to see thier own fail.

It is alright sitting in front of a big 60 inch screen at home with a beer and doritos and supporting a team. That wont give you an emotional attachment. Those Brazilians who are poor have nothing else and do not have the luxuries and they only have soccer to dream about.

Fine. So people who like Doritos and beer suck? Bad question, they probably do. My parents were longtime Cowboys ticket holders, and I was the dumb little kid with the nerf ball during the tailgating. I had the time of my life.

Besides the obvious jokes….I never claimed to be impoverished or suffering for anything. Is that what it it takes to be a legit fan?

You are completely missing the whole point. They have an emotional attachment because they have nothing else in life. Where you probably have a decent lifestyle. Material things probably mean less to you. They normally have a tin roof over their heads, Scrap for food everyday and a old leather soccer ball that has been repaired so many times that it is barely inflated. They will have more of an emotional attachment to their national sport as that is all they have in life to get by.

[GO2HELL]

The passion in soccer rich cities greatly overwhelm the passion of North American sports fans. You have for example the Yankees Red Sox rivalries. Where when either team loses, fans go home, sleep it off and move on to the next game. For example, my team Celtic, they have a history with another team called Rangers. When those teams play each other, people don't just go and sleep it off, they go out to the streets and start fighting anyone wearing the wrong colours. Back in the day, it was assured that when they played each other, people end up in the hospital, or people die, and then have to live with the agony of that loss for a whole week or until they play again. My grandma who comes from a celtic rich family, married a rangers supporter, was shunned by her entire family for 40 years and seemingly forced to move to canada because of the abuse she'd take for being "a traitor" . Over a :censored:ing soccer team. Like, I get Leafs/Habs fan getting rowdy after a game, but not to the point of shunning/disowning family members, smuggling in meat cleavers into a game with the intention of killing someone who has the balls to wear the wrong colours in a building, throwing potatoes stuffed with razor blades at away fans, or quitting your job just to see your favorite team play a game. In countries like Scotland, England, Brazil etc, they take passion to the whole next level, some even treat a team as the most important part of their life. I have never seen anything like the atmosphere, and the passion of soccer fans on game day anywhere else. I'm not really hating on NA sports fans, I'm just sayin that in some countries soccer is more than just a game, it truly is a way of life