In 2014, before the word “Brexit” had ever been uttered, when Donald Trump was just an angry millionaire with questionable hair, and polls were viewed as a reliable means of measuring public opinion, the year’s biggest shock result occurred on a football pitch in south-eastern Brazil.
So shocking it was that you can still go anywhere in the country today and the words sete um – Portuguese for 7-1 – continue to resonate as deeply as they did on July 8, 2014 when, in front of 58,000 slack-jawed spectators, Germany eliminated the Fifa World Cup hosts in the most merciless manner. Some fans, such as Regiana Osorio, an Uber-driver working in Belo Horizonte, might even now break down in tears when recalling the memories of that remarkable semi-final.
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“I was inside Estadio Mineirao with all my family and I could not believe what I was seeing,” she said, smiling sheepishly as her eyes welled up. “I’m sorry, talking about it brings back all the emotion. I suffered a lot that night. We all did. We had been confident and proud. It was heart-breaking.”
Yet every fall provides an opportunity to rise again. Friday night the Brazilian national team will return to the Mineirao for the first time since their humiliation as they meet great rivals Argentina in a crucial qualifier for the 2018 World Cup.
Billed as a "superclasico" and facing the world's best player in Lionel Messi, it should be a moment of much trepidation and fear. Instead, with a new manager, new tactics and growing confidence, the Selecao and its fans are ready to believe once more.
“There’s no way to escape it,” midfielder Paulinho said of the ghost of the Germany defeat, in which he featured as a second-half substitute. “But football gives you the chance to rewrite history. We’re not going to reverse what happened, but we can leave a good impression this time around.”
Tite, the new Brazil manager, has enjoyed a dream start since replacing Dunga shortly after the five-time World Cup winners crashed out of this summer’s Copa America Centenario in the group stages.
He has taken maximum points from his first four matches in charge, guiding Brazil from a precarious position in Conmebol qualification to the top of the 10-team standings.
“Of course returning here is something that still touches us all, even those who did not play,” the former Corinthians manager said. “But you have to know how to respond to each situation. It’s been two years and we are in a different time.”
A different time with a different team.
Of the 11 players who started against Germany in 2014, only Marcelo and Fernandinho are likely to feature on Thursday, while the emergence of Gabriel Jesus, the young striker primed to join Manchester City in January, and Liverpool duo Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino, have taken the pressure off Barcelona’s Neymar.
Brazil are one of just three countries to never lose a World Cup qualifier on home soil and they also have a favourable record against their southern neighbours.
In 70 meetings with Argentina, Brazil have won 30 and drawn 18. They will also take credence from their opponents’ recent struggles, which has left Edgardo Bauza’s side sitting outside the qualifying positions in sixth as well as managing fewer goals than all but three other nations in the group.
Yet Argentina are an entirely different prospect with Lionel Messi back in the team. In qualifying, La Albiceleste have won all three of the games in which he has played, but only one of the seven he has missed. Up against Barcelona teammate Neymar – who gave him a lift to Brazil aboard his private jet this week – he will be intent on ending his country's run of three straight games without a win.
“We have to be perfect,” Brazil defender Marquinhos said. “With the tiniest mistake, he can dribble, he can score.”
Osorio, the Uber driver, has decided to stay away from the Mineirao on Thursday – despite her admiration for Messi.
“I prefer him to Neymar because he is grounded, but losing to Argentina would be too much,” she said. “This time I will just watch on TV.”
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