When Fernandinho failed to shield the ball away from the on-rushing Toni Kroos, which subsequently led to Germany’s fourth goal in the now infamous World Cup semi final of 2014, you feared that fan pressure would result in the Manchester City midfielder never wearing the Selecao colours again.
It was a capitulation too match any as Brazil folded conceding four goals in six minutes which led to their biggest embarrassment in their history – the six goal swing matched their 6-0 loss to Uruguay in 1920. But this was in their own country. They’re own back-yard. In front of their own fans.
In the aftermath of the game, the scapegoats were named and shamed most notably David Luiz who was left in tears following the debacle but the other who was namely tarnished was the 30 year old Fernandinho. After all he was sacrificed at half-time by Brazil coach Luis Felipe Scolari.
It was perhaps Brazil’s darkest day in their illustrious footballing history when the whistle was blown for full time by Mexico’s Marco Rodriguez and Fernandinho was visibly shocked at the chain of events;
“I’m not sure how long it will take for me to get over this. This pain is big, big,” the Manchester City player said.
“The people wanted a good result, a win, the title, but we lost in the semifinal and all we can do is say sorry.”
However, since that fateful Brazil under coach Carlos Dunga haven’t lost a match in 90 minutes. They won their first match after the World Cup 1-0 against Columbia and followed that up with victories over Ecuador and Argentina in late 2014.
Although when it came to the Copa America last summer, the loss of Neymar Jr in the 1-0 loss to Columbia in their second group game hit them hard. They scraped passed Venezuela to advance to the quarter finals but their progression was halted as Paraguay stood firm and eventually won on penalties.
It has been another chance to take stock and rebuild following the tournament in Chile and they have yet again responded impressively with two wins in two over Costa Rica and USA.
Nonetheless it is Manchester City’s Fernandinho who has started five of Brazil’s last six games and now become a lynchpin in the side that needs to revert to what it knows best. Playing with flair and potency.
The Londrina born midfielder has come through a tough period in his career and emerged without the shackles and has even improved his eye for goal. He only notched three goals in 43 appearances last season, but has already score two in four in this. Where this isn’t an area City manager Manuel Pellegrini will be too concerned it shows that the player is exuding confidence and has regained trust in himself to play with the freedom that all South American players are intrinsically ‘born’ with.
Fernandinho seems like he will be a constant and consistent figure in the midfield for both club and country as both Pellegrini and Dunga look to experiment around him and if Manchester City and Brazil are to have major success over the next year to eighteen months then don’t be surprised if Fernandinho’s a big part of that.
