Samba drums fall silent as Dunga fails to answer Cryuff

PORT ELIZABETH - Brazilian coach Carlos Dunga wanted to silence Dutch legend Johan Cryuff but at the end of 90 minutes Friday it were the Samba drums that fell silent as the five-time champions were knocked out of the World Cup football with a 1-2 loss to the Netherlands at the picturesque Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

The stage for the quarterfinal was set perfectly as Dunga’s boys were in search for their sixth World Cup title while the Dutch were in hunt of their elusive first.

The 48,000 packed crowd at the stadium witnessed a titanic showdown in the fourth encounter between the two countries. The whole stadium was painted in orange and yellow, the traditional colours of two teams.

In 1974, then defending world champions Brazil, were vanquished by Cryuff,

arguably the greatest Dutch footballer.

It was Dunga who led the Brazilians to their revenge in the 1994 quarterfinal and the 1998 semi-final. But this time as a coach Dunga lost the plot in the game that was marked by frayed tempers and intermittent foul play.

The Brazilian fans went berserk as Robinho broke through the Dutch defence to give the champion favourites the lead in the 10th minute. The beats of the Samba drums could be heard all around the Bay area as Brazil had their fair share of chances in the first half.

The ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ continued every time as the Brazilian attacking duo of Robinho and Luis Fabiano threatened the Dutch defence.

But the Brazilian fans received a shock in the 53rd minute, when Felipe Melo’s own goal from Dirk Kuyt’s header allowed Dutch to pull level. The Samba fans clutched their hair in disbelief as the howler brought back the Dutch in the game.

“Can’t believe I am watching a Brazilian team committing such a mistake,” said a disappointed fan.

Wesley Sneijder then headed in the winner before Felipe Melo was sent off for stamping on Arjen Robben as favourites Brazil lost their cool and the match.

An eerie silence descended at the stadium as the tears rolled down the cheeks of the Brazilian fans.

For once journalists will not have to jostle for space in the media centre as some 500 Brazilian journalists have already packed off their bags and are ready to leave the rainbow country where the Brazilian sun set yet another time since Brazil won in 2002.

Now Brazil’s hopes lie in 2014 when the country hosts the Cup.

(Abhishek Roy can be contacted at abhishek.roy@ians.in)