Four teams, two games, one continent. South America had its own exclusive day in the sun on Saturday as the World Cup’s Round of 16 got off to an engrossing start and showed that sometimes parity in football can lead to seeming injustice too. It also proved a perfect showcase for South American football: passion, flair, drama, rough tackling, golazos and tears.
In the first game of the day, Chile came within a couple of inches of knocking out hosts Brazil and for that were knocked out themselves. The draw had pitted two of the continents best against each other and after 120 minutes of strength-sapping, high-intensity football, there could be only one winner. Yet on this occasion it felt as if there should have been two.
Chile, cheered on by a raucous red army, had played with passion and pride, pace and power; they had attacked a home side wracked by nerves and cared not for the fact they had fallen behind to a bundled David Luiz goal. Their own strike, although the result of a Hulk error, came about largely through their swarming of the Brazilian backline. There are teams far worse than Jorge Sampaoli’s gang remaining in this tournament and it is a darned shame Chile had to leave the party early.
There was, of course, little alternative. Brazil had to win. The host country, supported by a nation of 200 million, performed with all the intensity of a side in desperate need of a win. They peppered their opponent’s penalty area, they shot on sight and they full-heartedly defended with fervour. Yet as intent as they were on winning, they knew that whatever they tried they must not lose. When Chilean substitute Mauricio Pinilla broke free in the dying seconds and struck the crossbar, an entire country exhaled.
A few minutes later, the woodwork ultimately ended the battle; Gonzalo Jara striking his penalty on to the upright with the last spot-kick of five.
An hour later, at the famed Maracana, the South American showcase continued. Colombia’s James Rodriguez connected perfectly with a volley that flew into the Uruguay net by way of the underside of the crossbar. It was as good a goal as you are ever likely to see and the celebratory jig with his teammates screamed Latin America as loudly as a blue-red-yellow flag.
Uruguay, in turn, provided the lesser enjoyed side of the continent’s footballing stereotype, throwing themselves into rash tackles, arguing with the referee and generally showing a lack of respect for the game and its players. Diego Lugano was booked and will miss the next game, despite not even featuring in this one.
For Uruguay, mesmeric at time in 2010, the 2014 World Cup is over; there is no next game. Lugano’s suspension will roll over into their next competition. For Colombia and Brazil, however, the draw has been cruel once more. Much like Chile, one of them is going to finish their quarter-final a loser and while it means a South American representative will reach the final four, it means one of the most well-supported and passionate sides will not.
For that, football is the loser.
gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
