Brazil: Football, Fans, and Destiny

How realistic was it to hope that Brazil would follow the redemption narrative, win the World Cup, and shine brightly as a soccer team of manifest destiny? Not very. Yet, soccer is no less a window into the soul of Brazil. The Brazil national team is but one element of a complex culture within the enormous international soccer phenomena. Brazil remains the only national team globally with five stars on their jersey and has helped define the game for many years.

Brazil's crushing loss to Germany in the 2014 World Cup semifinal was the occasion for one commentator to talk about the national character:

"This is more than a simple game! It represents the triumph of competence over trickery! It sets an example for generations of children who know that one has to grind, train, study to succeed in life! End this myth of the Brazilian trickster who wins the game with his swagger, earns money without getting sweaty, becomes president without training! The great legacy of this disaster is an example for future generations! Honest people, hardworking make a country, and not by a parasite population transformed into a government that teaches us to receive food in the mouth and not fight to get it! Germany wins masterfully and with merit! That serves as a lesson!

Brazil has to be loved every day in our work, study, and honesty! Loving the country in a football game one day and stealing the land in the act of corruption, whatever it is, evading taxes, killing, robbing! What love of country is this! Enough! Brazilians are tired of being betrayed by their people! We need to educate our children for a generation without shame and become a true nation that prides itself on its people, and not just his football!"

If Brazil is to prosper, it would have to prioritize education and health as much as it showcased the ability to host a World Cup.