Why some Brazilians see a silver lining in epic World Cup loss
| Bel茅m, Brazil
It was a chance to chase away the ghosts of the 1950 World Cup final, when Brazil was upset by Uruguay. Instead, the first World Cup on Brazilian soil in 64 years became the medium last night for the national team to suffer another stunning loss 鈥� creating new demons for this soccer-obsessed nation.
鈥淲e鈥檒l never forget it for the rest of our lives,鈥� says Fabricio Bessa, one of hundreds of Brazilians who watched the match at the riverside plaza Esta莽茫o das Docas in downtown Bel茅m.聽
But as the dust settles on the 7-1 loss to Germany, some Brazilians are cautiously hopeful, deploying humor to ease dashed hopes 鈥� and suggesting that the loss will renew much-needed scrutiny of the corruption-plagued event鈥檚 $11.3 billion price tag and legacy.
While polls had in recent weeks shown a brightening outlook for the economy and rising popularity for President Dilma Rousseff as Brazilians聽rallied around televisions聽to cheer on their Sele莽茫o, the mood may now revert to the pessimism of a year ago, when聽massive nationwide street demonstrations聽erupted in protest of corruption and poor social services.聽
As recently as May, more than 61 percent of Brazilians believed the World Cup was bad for the country because it took聽money away from schools,听healthcare,聽and other services, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center. Public anger has also been fueled by allegations of corruption within World Cup-related construction projects, many of which were either completed over budget 鈥撀爄f completed at all 鈥� or marred by accidents such as last week鈥檚 collapse of a new bridge in Belo Horizonte.聽
鈥淚鈥檓 not upset that Brazil lost,鈥� says Mr. Bessa, clad in a bright yellow Brazil jersey last night. 鈥淚鈥檓 upset because the government spent so much money hosting the World Cup. If Brazil had won, everyone would have forgotten about all the problems here. I鈥檓 glad they lost.鈥�
Bessa鈥檚 wife Renata was less triumphant, however. 鈥淚 expected Brazil to be champions,鈥� she says, her face showing pain. 鈥淚 expected this to be their sixth World Cup title.鈥�
The differing reactions between husband and wife are a microcosm of the national mood today 鈥撀燼 mix of anger and sadness, frustration and disbelief 鈥撀燼s Brazil struggles to understand what happened on the pitch against Germany. Was it the absence of star striker Neymar and defender Thiago Silva? Is Germany really that good? Or had the weight of expectation from 200 million rabid fans caused the team to crack?
"Honestly, it's hard to explain,鈥� Brazilian goalie Julio Cesar said after the match. 鈥淵ou can't explain the inexplicable.鈥�
In the wake of the loss renewed jeers were hurled at President Rousseff and minor vandalism erupted in S茫o Paulo, but for now much of Brazil appears to be coping with the humiliating loss聽in true Brazilian form 鈥� by turning to humor. Even before the match ended last night, the incredulous crowd here in Bel茅m began exchanging snarky comments on their smartphones and even cheering sarcastically as Germany scored goal after goal.
Among the memes popping up across social media was an image of Brazil鈥檚 iconic statue Christ the Redeemer alternately weeping into a stone hand and morphed into German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Passing jokes were that Brazil was about to win a new record for greatest-ever defeat, and that morning talk shows would need to start early to report all of Germany鈥檚 goals. More bitter was a remark that Brazil had found a spectacular way to erase the memories of its 1950 defeat.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a feeling of shock, like it鈥檚 not real,鈥� says Lucas Guerra, an optometrist in Bel茅m. 鈥淚 think I鈥檒l wake up and things will change.鈥� 聽
