Globo Esporte conducted a survey with their readers following Brazil’s humiliating 7-1 World Cup semi-final defeat to Germany to see what they felt was to blame for the loss.
It was well known that Luiz Felipe Scolari was without his two most influential players – captain Thiago Silva and superstar Neymar – but could the Brazil head coach have done anything different?
Globo Esporte picked four options for their readership – whether Scolari picked the wrong team, whether it was because Silva and Neymar were unavailable, whether it was purely down to Neymar or whether Silva’s absence was decisive.
In the poll 78% felt the Brazil head coach picked the wrong team to face Germany, whilst 17% put the defeat purely down to Neymar and Silva being unavailable.
Only 1% felt the result would have been different had Neymar played and 4% believed Thiago Silva’s appearance would have made the final scoreline much different.
Scolari’s decision to pick Bernard as Neymar’s replacement raised several eyebrows amongst the Brazilian media.
That decision meant the host nation were open in midfield with only two central midfielders up against Germany’s three.
Most felt Scolari would play Luiz Gustavo, Fernandinho and Paulinho in central midfield and though it might not have made a massive difference, such was Germany’s class, fans obviously feel the starting XI picked for the semi-final clash was wrong.
