itsbeautifuloutside

Introduction

Whether favouritism or chance saw this match played in Brazil’s northern fortress, this was definitely the venue Brazil would have selected to play their most difficult opponents yet. Fortaleza was the last place a Brazil side lost on home soil (to Paraguay in 2002) but in 41 subsequent matches they have not been beaten and in Fortaleza they have gained many important wins. The hosts made 2 changes – Maicon for Alves and Paulinho in for the suspended Gustavo.

Colombia (wearing beautiful red adidas shirts) also made 2 changes with Guarin and Ibarbo returning in place of Martinez and Aguilar. There have been some pretty outlandish fan costumes at Brazil 2014 but Colombians probably have the weirdest – particularly the variations on the tradition bird-man outfits. Both sides sang hearty anthems and FIFA insisted on various anti-discrimination actions involving both teams. How about some anti-corruption action and less hot air?

Match Report

After listening to 30 mins bull**** from ITV’s pundits we were left with Tyldesley and Townsend to ruin our enjoyment of the match. For his many faults, Townsend at least seems to understand the rules of modern football and spent much of the match correcting the buffoon sat next to him.

Early exchanges showed portents of things to come. Paulinho tested Yepes’ pace and the old man did well to match his run. Any Colombian possession was booed by the home fans and we saw a number of dodgy tackles halting the progress of the flair players on either side. The first strike of note came after Sanchez fouled Fred. Neymar put his shot over the wall but wide. Maicon then charged down the right but his cross drifted behind. Zapata began by taking Colombia’s goal kicks – was Ospina carrying some sort of injury? On 6 mins Fernandinho found Neymar down the left. Zapata closed him down but the ball span out for a corner. Neymar swung his cross to the far post where Thiago ran past a statuesque Sanchez to sweep the bouncing ball into the net. 1-0 Brazil. Colombia are behind – for the first time in Brazil.

On 8 minutes Oscar fouled James giving Colombia a free kick in the centre of the pitch. It was a long way out but Guarin took the shot which sailed over the bar. Colombia’s next attack saw Cuadrado’s shot deflected for a corner. He took it himself but failed to beat the first defender. Fernandinho was very involved in everything Brazil did, winning plenty of balls in midfield. On 13 he hacked down James in the centre circle but the referee gave no more than a free kick. There followed a period where both sides squandered possession but suddenly Maicon chased a ball down the right, forcing the defender to concede a corner. Neymar’s cross was headed out by Yepes but Brazil recovered the ball and sent Hulk away down the left. He tried to find Luiz but his cross was cleared but again Brazil recovered the ball. Hulk then worked a 1-2 with Neymar and struck a firm shot which Ospina saved well. Moments later the keeper saved from Oscar and Brazil won another corner. This resulted in another shot from Marcelo but this time the keeper was untroubled.

On 20, Colombia were back on the attack. James’ cross was cleared but when he next got the ball he looked for Guadrado. He was closed down by defenders. The game became end-to-end. On 24 Paulinho broke into the box - and fell over. Down the other end Ibarbo’s overhit pass was fielded by Cesar. On 26 Hulk and Marcelo worked the ball in from the left. It came to Fred who fired over. Marcelo then set up Hulk who drew a great save from Ospina.

Marcelo then fouled Guarin and James’ free kick was headed out for a throw. Colombia then won a string of throw-ins down their left as Brazil seemed content to just boot the ball out of play. Eventually a chance was created for Cuadrado but his shot was blocked. On 32, Fenandinho and Marcelo played in Neymar but his forward pass was overhit. Goal kick – interestingly, Ospina was now taking them himself.

Brazil enjoyed a period of possession, winning a couple of corners but causing no great problems for the side in red. On 35, Ibarbo won a free kick when he connected with Fernandinho’s high boot. James’ took it but it was charged down by a defender - well beyond the foam line! Another free kick was awarded for Thiago’s foul on Cuadrado. James took this one too but Cesar rose a caught his cross.

On 39, Hulk was set up by Neymar but his woeful shot was well wide. On 43 minutes, Fred showed some great control before playing in Neymar. His control let him down but won a reprieve when taken down by a brainless foul by Zuniga. Neymar put his free-kick wide. In the final minute of the half Hulk was caught with a studs-up tackle by Zuniga in the centre circle. Would earn a straight red anywhere these days yet this awful Spanish referee let it go. Brazil retaliated with 2 more fouls before half-time: 1-0 Brazil. There were plenty of fouls from both sides - probably the dirtiest 45 minutes at Brazil 2014 but not a single card was shown.

Hertha striker Ramos came on for the 2nd half replacing Ibarbo. He was soon charging in pursuit of a ball down the left flank but could not keep it in play. It looked as if Colombia’s half-time talk centred on winning more free kicks as every tackle now resulted in extravagant dives to the ground. The referee was so poor he fell for many that weren’t fouls but missed some that were. A string of free-kicks kept Brazil penned back but Cesar and his centre-backs stood firm.

On 50 minutes Brazil eventually got upfield but Zapata headed it behind - goal kick? Yeah right! Both sides continued to give away free kicks, Brazil going ahead as the foul count mounted. Neymar seemed off his game; holding onto the ball when team-mates were available. Maicon was doing OK at right back. He was helping out going forwards but not forgetting his defensive duties like Alves usually does. Thiago then ploughed into the back of Ramos and feigned injury – successfully, as no card was shown.

On 59 Armero crossed to James. The #10 chipped the ball onto Guarin who fired over the top. Colombia then enjoyed a period of pressure with Brazil happy to just boot the ball away. Another free kick gave James the chance to cross. Zapata met it but his header bounced away off a defender. Brazil moved down the park and Neymar was stopped by a crude body check. The big blokes came up but his free-kick sailed beyond them, claimed by Ospina. As the keeper tried to launch the ball downfield, Thiago blocked him. Stupidly he then turned and rolled the ball into the empty net, earning himself the first yellow card and a semi-final ban! Given the savagery of much that had gone before, that was a pretty limp booking.

James Rodriguez was seeing plenty of the ball but that was because he was taking most of the free-kicks. On 66 he swung another cross into the box but 2 team mates were offside. The flag went up and play was stopped. The ball ended up in the goal and Townsend spent a long time explaining why it didn’t count to the imbecile commentator. Brazil moved upfield and the back-tracking James slid in and tripped Hulk. It was barely a free kick but the young man received a yellow card – the price of fame perhaps? Things got much worse for Colombia when David Luiz strode up and fired one his trade-mark up and down free-kicks off the fingers of Ospina and into the goal: a screamer and 2-0 Brazil. There was little to enjoy in this game so thanks be for a proper Brazilian free-kick at long last!

Bacca immediately replaced Gutierrez and was soon in action. His chip towards Ramos was claimed by Cesar. The red tide surged towards Brazil’s goal and the men in yellow blocked and headed the ball away. Yepes talked himself into the book – frankly I don’t care if players abuse officials who fail to do their job properly. Respect has to be earned and this referee earned none.

On 73, Brazil made a rare foray forwards. Oscar fed Neymar but his shot curled wide. Colombia were soon back attacking. Armero set up Cuadrado whose long shot drew a diving save from Cesar. Brazil were able to relieve the pressure briefly when Bacca fouled Thiago but soon James was bearing down on their area again. His pass through the back line found Bacca running in. Maicon played the striker onside and, as Luiz closed in, he nicked the ball over Cesar and went over the diving keeper – penalty! The proximity of Luiz saved the keeper from a red card. Instead he was awarded the final yellow of the match. James did a little stutter step and as Cesar dived to his left, the tournament’s top scorer rolled the ball into the other corner. 2-1.

Scenting a recovery, Colombia replaced Cuadrado with Porto’s Quintero. Colombia won successive corners but Brazil continued to defend their box. Fresh legs were introduced when Ramires replaced Hulk and Hernanes came on for Paulinho. Colombia’s next attack was halted by a raised flag. Then Zuniga made progress down the right forcing Oscar to concede a corner.

As Brazil cleared the ball it fell to Neymar, deep in his own half. With no chance of winning the ball Zuniga rammed his knee into the Brazilian’s back leaving him writing on the ground. Unbelievably the referee allowed play to continue till Oscar was fouled further up the park. He then came back – and did nothing. Yet Zuniga is the player who should have gone in the first half for putting studs into Hulk. FIFA should hang their heads in shame if they allow that degree of violence on the pitch to go unpunished. They could not act fast enough to discipline Suarez for his misdemeanour. Of course all the Italians wanted was a referee brave enough to send him off – not a ludicrous after the event ban. Brazil were also denied justice, this time by a Spanish coward.

As Neymar was taken away by ambulance, Hernanes came on for the last 2 minutes plus an extra 5. Thankfully, Colombian thuggery went unrewarded and Brazil safely negotiated those final minutes. A 2-1 win earned a semi-final with Germany next Tuesday. Man of the Match: David Luiz for a proper Brazilian World Cup goal.

Colombia are out of the competition but James Rodriguez rather looks the outstanding player at Brazil 2014. He could still win the golden boot. When things go their way, Colombia are a delight to watch but in this quarter final we saw their darker side. It lurks, as with so many South American sides, just below the surface. We saw it with Uruguay earlier in the competition – not just on the pitch but in the irrational way they closed ranks around Suarez. Fair Play my arse!

Fortunately Neymar will heal. He may even get away without surgery if he is lucky. FIFA must be breathing a huge sigh of relief, as must Zuniga – even if spineless football authorities let him get away with cruel assault, had he ended Neymar’s career Barca’s lawyers and insurers would not have been so remiss. Liverpool FC are probably thanking their lucky stars too. Had Neymar been out for an extended period there is no way Barca would have let Sanchez leave now.

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