Brazil 1-7 Germany: How the Brazilian press reacted to the Seleção's nightmare evening

The Brazilian press pulled no punches in the wake of the Seleção’s humiliating 7-1 defeat to Germany on Tuesday.

The hopes and expectations that Brazil carried into the tournament turned to dust at the Mineirão, with Joachim Low’s side ruthlessly exposing the hosts’ flaws.

“The disgrace of all disgraces” read the GloboEsporte headline, followed by: “Massacred tactically and technically, Brazil suffer the worst defeat of all time.”

Read the rest of this round-up here and check out O Globo's savage Brazil player ratings here.

Mineiraço: Brazil's tragic defeat to Germany will be talked about in hushed tones for years to come

“Vamo, vamo, vamo,” David Luiz hollered in the tunnel. Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go! Brazil’s newest cult hero and temporary captain then stood in silence for a few seconds, steely-eyed, gazing out onto the pitch. A deep breath or two and then the roar.

Luiz led Brazil out onto the pitch in that familiar funereal procession. No one knew just how appropriate that slow walk would prove. As the anthem started, he raised a shirt high above his head. ‘Neymar 10’, it read. Brazil’s fallen hero, remembered as if he had passed away.

The tears may have subsided in the wake of the Chile game, but this was still an emotionally charged moment. Of course it was: this was Brazil’s biggest home game for 64 years.

But even before hindsight cast the Neymar tribute in such a damning light, the contrast between the sides was telling. While Germany lined up like a super-powered Flamengo side (what an occasion to use that shirt for the first time in the World Cup!), Brazil were again caught up in the moment.

Read the rest of this piece on Tuesday's Mineiraço on the MirrorFootball site.

Hope springs eternal: has Neymar's injury taken the pressure off Brazil?

Although Juan Camilo Zúñiga probably did not realise it at the time, his challenge on Neymar in the closing stages of Brazil’s quarter-final win over Colombia has changed the complexion of this World Cup.

The inquest in the Brazilian media began almost immediately: opinion pieces riddled words like “cowardly” and “criminal” occupied far more column inches than the result itself the following morning; medical diagrams of the spine had been printed in every sport pullout in the country by Sunday.

You would have thought by the reaction that someone had died rather than been ruled out of two football matches. But then Neymar, perhaps the most beloved Brazilian out there at this moment in history, is of such importance to Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side that the sense of loss is understandable.

Yet there is an argument to be made – albeit one that requires something of a leap of faith – that Zúñiga has done Brazil a favour. While Neymar’s absence will be keenly felt on the field, the Seleção may just have stumbled into a psychological landscape that suits them perfectly.

Read the rest of this piece on the Mirror website.

World Cup preview: Brazil vs Germany

The nation may be in a state of semi-mourning after Neymar was ruled out of the World Cup, but Brazil are nonetheless through to the final four.

Now, though, things get really tough. The Seleção face their toughest opponents so far in the form of Joachim Low's Germany, who will be looking to avenge the 2002 final defeat. Can Luiz Felipe Scolari get one over on Die Mannschaft again to seal a place in the final at the Maracanã?

I preview the game for ESPN FC with Susie Schaaf here.

Raphael Honigstein and I pick out best bets for Unibet here.

What now for Brazil with Neymar injured?

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has to find the answer to a question he hoped would never be asked. It's one that has been on the lips of Seleção fans for the last year or so, albeit always hypothetical before this week: What do Brazil do without Neymar?

Thanks to Juan Zuñiga's clumsiness, the Barcelona star has been ruled out for the rest of the World Cup. Brazil must find a way to cope without their talisman and best player.

For MirrorFootball, I look at five possible tactical solutions for the Seleção.

For ESPN FC, five players who have to step up to the plate to make up for the loss of Neymar.

Neymar injury sours win over Colombia and could ruin Brazil's World Cup hopes

For once this tournament, Brazil were buoyant.

Thiago Silva's redemptive goal had set the tone in their World Cup quarter-final against Colombia. When David Luiz added a sensational second after the interval, it looked like being the night on which their title hopes truly came back to life.

But that was before the real news of the evening filtered through.

Neymar had left the field on a stretcher following a clumsy challenge by Juan Zuñiga in the second half before being taken to hospital. The forward had appeared to be in some pain on the way down the tunnel, clutching his lower back and grimacing.

After the final whistle, the coach Luiz Felipe Scolari admitted that he would be a doubt for the semi-final against Germany. But even that uncertainty – that sweet, hopeful uncertainty – was soon snatched away from Brazil. Neymar, the team doctor revealed an hour or so later, had fractured a vertebrae. He will miss the rest of the World Cup.

Read the rest of this piece on the Yahoo! Eurosport site.

Tears for fears: On Brazil players crying and what it tells us about the pressure they are under

There is an advert on Brazilian television at the moment that stars Seleção captain Thiago Silva. He’s sat on a bus, which is passing through a tunnel. He is all alone and begins a monologue to camera, detailing the challenges he has had to overcome to become the player he is today. Then he looks out the window, wistfully. It looks like he is on the verge of bursting into tears.

It would be foolish to read too much into a bit of publicity, of course, but it is hard not to see the clip as a perfect metaphor for Brazil’s World Cup to date. There is plenty of emotion, sure, but it feels laden with negativity, like a weight on the shoulders of players who 12 months ago were joyously running riot at the Confederations Cup.

My latest Yahoo! Eurosport article is about the emotional instability that appears to be gripping the Brazil camp. Read it here.