Brazil Back on Its Feet

"The Brazilian players didn't have any doubts entering the World Cup, thanks to a team that had won nearly every competition it had played - and had added poise and efficiency to its "Beautiful Game." But a bad half against the Netherlands was all it took to derail Brazil's hopes for a record sixth world title. For the second World Cup in a row, Brazil failed to get past the quarterfinals, losing 2-1 to the Dutch despite taking an early lead Friday in Port Elizabeth." Puts perfectly TALES AZZONI for Associated Press.

I quot a foreigner to describe the Brazilian team condition and fate to hand it really as exempt as possible to you dear reader. Brazilians are patriotic but in general this is denied. You go on the streets and ask people and they will say Brazilian don´t care about country.

Now, there is a time - every four years - when the out burst of nationalism is amazing. That is when the "Seleção", as the Brazilian squad is called, goes some where to play soccer and, people expect, bring home another victory. This has already happened five times, we will have to wait four years for the sixth one.

Picture this, inside the homes everything is in general ready for the matches, as you see in Jessica de Paula´s family picture here the mood is pretty much like as if we were inside the stadium.

On the streets two or three weeks before the games begin yellow and green is every where. During the games millions wear the team colors. Piratically all adds on TV will have something to do with Seleção or the tournament itself.

The government knows this very well, during this time very often unpopular measures are taken because - the people will be overwhelmed with the games, the championship and the Seleção. This time prices of public services like tolls in Sao Paulo state went up some 4.39.

This is presidential election year in Brazil and for the opponents of Lula´s party, PT, it is good the people is earlier back on their foot. It is all like a big wave today only a couple of days after Brazil´s defeat by Holland there is almost no yellow and green on the streets, actually that very fateful afternoon most of it was rapidly gone.

Well, in the heads of virtually all Brazilians there is in some degree the following: "lets wait, in four years the sixth championship is ours..." For the time being lets watch the games. Go Germany, go Spain!