"It was perfect" - Brazilian reaction to shocking World Cup exit

Former São Paulo resident William Ferreira sat down in Dublin to watch Monday’s Brazil - Germany World Cup semi final match with confidence and high hopes.

“All my life, I breathe football,” William enthuses. “My heart beats fast when I see my nation singing the national anthem.”

Just minutes into the game, Germany scored a rapid succession of goals against his team, and Brazil’s song didn’t ring so sweetly. His heart beat faster, but not with the usual jubilation that comes from watching the buttercup jerseys sprint down the green field.

“I'd say that I hate football in this moment," he begins, deflated. "I felt humiliated like my nation as well. When I saw Dante, Bernard, and Fred in the first minutes, I realised they were scared and felt that responsibility to represent their nation…so I [thought to myself] that if the Brazilian team win, it would be a miracle.”

Back in São Paulo, Dayanne Araújo, a former Dublin resident, felt her spirits sink like William’s as she watched the game in a bar full of her screaming, crying and swearing countrymen.

“It was horrible. I can’t even believe it. My heart is broken,” an anguished Dayanne explained after the final whistle had brought an end to this proud football nation's nightmare.

Monday’s loss at home registered as something of an insult to injury as tensions from mounting costs and corruption surrounded and darkened the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Though FIFA awarded the country the right to host the tournament in 2007, public opinion failed to converge into an overwhelming positive seven years later. According to a Pew Research Center, who conducted an expansive opinion poll prior to the first match against Croatia, 61 percent of Brazilians believed it was not good for their country to act as hosts.

To lose after all of this was salt in the wound, but it was well known that Monday’s game would be tough for Brazil.

Without Neymar and Thiago Silva on the field, São Paulo native and former Dublin resident Rodrigo Santos says he thought it would be harder, but Brazil could try and defend as much as possible then wait to attack back. He admits that the German team has always been very strong, but he thought the same of the Brazilian force.

“No one ever thought that it could be as bad as it was,” Rodrigo says in disbelief. “I mean even losing by three goals wouldn't be as bad, But seven??? Everybody is really upset at having lost, but mostly for losing without fighting, playing, trying…”

Rodrigo and William blame lack of faith from the players who felt “the weight of the jersey”, meaning the weight of the nation’s expections. William also pointed to poor coaching from Brazil head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari - who has actually asked the nation for forgiveness - calling it a “negative mistake.”

According to Brazilian newspapers, protestors from São Paulo’s suburbs lit 19 buses up in flames after the games while extra riot police stand ground on the streets where once there were scores of revellers. Dayanne Araújo hasn’t seen any protests. The atmosphere is calm. Warmth and welcome have replaced worry and Rodrigo and Dayanne are pleased with how Brazilians were treating the tourists.

Although Germany may have knocked the host nation out of the tournament, Dayanne says Brazilians are now lining up to stand behind them. Brazil is counting on the Germans to make sure their close rival Argentina is shut out just as harshly as they were. Some fans are even going as far as abandoning their bright yellow jerseys to don Germany’s colours, according to Dayanne.

“Everybody is sad, and the children cry a lot because they do not understand,” she frowns. “But we are not mad with the Germans. We really want them to win!”

While there are no hard feelings toward Joachim Löw's side, the same can’t be said of the Brazilian government. Brazilians will take to the voting booths this October, and both Dayanne and Rodrigo fiercely believe the citizens will not re-elect current President Dilma Russef.

“Every time, in the stadium, the fans chant ‘Ei Dilma, vai tomar no cu !” meaning ‘Hey Dilma, fuck you!'", Dayanne laughs. “There will be changes.”

The football loss has a political silver lining. Rodrigo believes that if Brazil had won another cup, people would forget about their problems.

“Football in Brazil is a way of making people blind about what's going on,” he states, adding that he will never be able to close his eyes at the corruption he experiences in his country. This anger affects him every day and during every football win, loss or tie.

So to Rodrigo, Brazil’s tournament time has panned out exactly as it should.

“It might sound really strange coming from a Brazilian person, but … it was perfect that we lost the last game,” Rodrigo makes his point. “Of course it wasn't necessary to be humiliated in front of the whole world in that way, but at least now we have time again to think properly about to who to vote for in the coming elections."