Brasil?

Shows off for club AND country

Spain and Germany, Spain and Germany, Spain and Germany. Those have been the resounding 2 teams in the past couple of months as the favorites to win next year's World Cup in Brazil. The hosts have been relegated to simply "making it out of the group stage". This statement has been said by many, including myself, due to the reality of the Brazilian national side. Qualifying automatically to the World Cup next year as hosts, Brazil hasn't really had any competitive matches since Copa America in 2011, which saw them exit early against a rather average Paraguay in the Quarterfinals in an even worse round of penalties. On top of that, Brazil seemed far from having a smooth transition from that 2002 World Champion side, which saw many of the same players exit early in 2006, and a young and relatively unknown team exit early also in 2010. This year Brazil is displaying and even younger and relatively "unknowner" team with the exception of exploding star Neymar, who has been making headlines at a tender age of 21, and still has not played a single match in European football.

Most importantly, will she be there?

Football critics want to hold their praise of the young 'craque' for that very same reason, he has not played European football, where Brazilian greats like Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka, Roberto Carlos, Cafu, among an infinite list of stars that have donned the verde-amarela. The transition from Brazilian football for the previous list has been a recipe for success; they shine in the brazilian league, are brought to a mid-ranked european team to adapt, and then make the jump to the elites. Ronaldo went to PSV, Ronaldinho went to PSG, R. Carlos went to Inter, before breaking into the first team of much bigger clubs. Neymar has gone directly to Barcelona and has already been simulated into different roles without having kicked a single ball at the Camp Nou. Critics are split down the middle on predicting his success at Barcelona, but after seeing this kid at the "watered down" version of the world stage, I'm convinced he will do well in football's greatest stage next season.

Having said that, Brazil is an image of Neymar to a certain extent. Young, talented, but still unproven. As young as this team is, it's also deceivingly experienced; only a handful of them play in Brazil, the rest play in the best leagues in the world. Call it what you may, this team has emphatically beaten Japan, Mexico and Italy, as well as displaying a proven team effort to beat South American champions Uruguay, a team that always rises in these tournaments. Despite the result in Sunday's final against Spain, Brazil has already established themselves as contenders to win their 6th World Cup next summer. But why? Well, they have proven to play true attacking football with flair AND results, simple as that. They are what Brazil has iconically been known for as "Jogo Bonito", and they are a breath of fresh air, considering the alternative; Spain's already beaten to the ground Tiki-Taka, which Italy showed yesterday at the semi finals that a simple Red Bull to stay awake is all you need to cancel out their game, not to mention that it was booed by Brazilians in every single Spanish match, who preferred to chant "Ole" whenever Italy passed the ball around them. Now that's saying something!

So go ahead, keep talking about Spain and Germany fighting for the World Cup at the Maracanã next summer, I dare to say now it will be an all South American final, with Brazil enjoying their home show like none other. Haven't made up my mind who will win it, or who will be playing against them. Who do you have dancing Samba at the Maracanã?