Brazil's crestfallen players can't go home yet. They can't hide from the spotlight, because they still have to play one more game at the World Cup.
While a win over Germany in Wednesday morning's semi-final would have booked Brazil a spot in the tournament's decider — on home soil, no less — the team's humiliating 7-1 defeat consigned it to a place in the match no nation wants to play, the dreaded third place playoff.
On one level, that's a cruel and unnecessary assignment. Many Brazilians would rather cry themselves to sleep for a month than endure 90 more minutes of football for the unenviable prize of being runners-up to the runners-up.
But this year, for once, the third place playoff is actually worth playing. It's a chance for Brazil's fallen superstars to redeem themselves, at least somewhat, in the eyes of their horrified fans.
If Argentina had lost its semi-final as well, sport's ultimate dead rubber would have become almost as meaningful as the final itself. Fans had been salivating over the prospect of a South American derby between Brazil and Argentina for months.
The dream finale won't happen now. Brazil can't sign off from the World Cup by beating its fiercest rival at home, and there will be no bragging rights.
But even against the Netherlands, Brazil's players should be desperate to finish the tournament with an impressive performance. They owe their fans nothing less after this week's catastrophe.
David Luiz, who replaced the suspended Thiago Silva as Brazil's captain in the semi-final, was appalling. According to my invariably accurate colleague Cameron Tomarchio, Luiz was at fault for six of Germany's seven goals. Just look at the man's heat map — as his team fell to pieces at the back, he was speeding upfield, doing everything other than his job.
Brazil will probably never forgive the defender for his (ironically) indefensible performance. But at least Luiz can show that he learned from the defeat. He can put the weight of actions behind his tearful post-match apology.
Luiz isn't the only Brazilian in need of redemption. No player, however lazy, can concede seven goals on his own.
His teammates could easily sulk their way into fourth place, then trudge home and feel sorry for themselves. Or they could pull themselves together and sign off from this World Cup — Brazil's World Cup — by restoring their fans' pride, and reviving their passion for the sport.
Most third place playoffs are pointless. This one won't be. Hopefully, the Brazilian team realizes that.
This article originally appeared on News.com.au.
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