The third place match is finally here, and today we will see if a battered Brazil can muster enough mental strength to play a Dutch team that looked unstoppable until the semi finals.

Brazil VS The Netherlands

FIFA Result

Brazil 2 Netherlands 0

Brazil 2
Fenandinho (30′)
Ramirez (37′)

There is no real way to simulate mentality in a video game, and so despite suffering from some heavy penalties to their stats due to being “out of form” the Brazilian team was good enough to beat a Dutch side that got further in the competition than anyone expected.

World Cup Result 

Brazil 0 Netherlands 3

Brazil 0

Netherlands 3
Van Persie (2′)(P)
Blind (17′)
Wijnaldum (90+1′)

Despite the score line, Brazil did play better. The first goal was on a penalty for a foul outside of the Box where Robben was offside. And the second goal came as insecurity over the first goal set in. After the 20th minute, Brazil played a good game and even had goal chances, but the disciplined Dutch kept a clean sheet, but a late goal effectively ended a tournament they will like to forget.

Conclusion

Brazil has been in decline for a while, but this marks the end of an era in Brazilian football. They will recover from this. The pool of talent and tradition they have is too big for them not to, but what emerges will likely be very different from the Brazil of past two decades.

One game to go!

3rd place