(ESP-ENG) Un descenso a la locura... [Opinión]
Hello friends, good vibes to all.

Today I should be talking about Silverstone and how Ferrari got both their drivers on the podium, but how can I do that after witnessing such a disastrous afternoon/evening at the World Championship? That's why today Formula 1 is taking a backseat to discuss Brazil's historic debacle against Norway and Mexico's elimination, once again in the round of 16. But let's take things one step at a time and start with the first match. Brazil wasn't favored to win the World Championship, but no one expected them to be so bad as to be knocked out in the round of 16. However, the reality is that Norway thrashed Brazil, and they did so in every possible and measurable way on the pitch. The match was boring at times, but that was the formula the Norwegians used, and it worked perfectly for them.
When a team like Norway passes the ball right under your nose, that generation of "jogo bonito" players was on the verge of collapse. And yes, 66% possession with 653 completed passes compared to Brazil's 34% possession and less than half the number of completed passes (313). These numbers are worrying, but at the same time, not at all surprising. Brazil isn't playing any kind of football; there's no joy in their game, no depth, and above all, no quality among their players. Talking with some friends, we asked ourselves, "Why doesn't Brazil produce players like they used to?" And honestly, we didn't know the answer. Brazil has over 200 million inhabitants; it's unbelievable that among so many people there isn't someone who plays better than Danilo.
What probably defined many things was that first penalty that Vinicius didn't take. Honestly, I didn't understand that decision. Vini is a great penalty taker, but for Ancelotti, he was only the fifth best. The thing is, Raphinha's absence was a big blow, injuries before the World Cup (Estevao) took their toll, Neymar's poor form was a factor—yes, he looked slow and out of shape yesterday—and ultimately, Brazil has never had that magic it once possessed. For me, this is a huge failure; being eliminated in the round of 16 is inconceivable for a five-time champion. But it's not just about being eliminated; it's about doing so while playing so poorly. Well done to Norway; everyone knew they were going to pull off an upset, and look at them now, led by a footballing beast like Haaland.

But if there was another descent into footballing madness, it was the one Mexico experienced against England, with the difference that this blow was more emotional and moral than related to their actual play. The co-hosts arrived undefeated, with a clean sheet, and playing like they never had in a World Cup; I think their hopes were well justified. But they faced an England side that hadn't shown much but needed only two minutes to bury Mexico's aspirations. I think Mexico played spectacularly in the first half; had they been more effective and clinical, the result would clearly have been different. I think an important point here is that after the match against Ecuador, where they certainly demonstrated their best football, they returned to the Azteca Stadium very confident. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but we have to be prudent; in football, the unthinkable can always happen.
Mexico lost perhaps because the substitutions weren't the right ones. Taking off Quiñones and Gilberto Mora with the score against them wasn't exactly beneficial or correct, and in the end, with practically five forwards in the box, it wasn't enough to just send in crosses haphazardly. Building plays, one-twos, and creating space was what was needed, and that's precisely when Mora was crucial. The curse of the round of 16 continues to haunt the Mexicans, especially now that they had perhaps the highest hopes after seeing their performance in the group stage, and particularly the match against Ecuador. I don't know if they were capable of being champions; it's good to have the desire, but we have to be realistic. They could have beaten England and reached the quarterfinals. Playing at home, with a packed stadium, an extra player on the field, and the momentum they had built up, Mexico was obligated to win. Everything was set up for a Mexican epic, considering they had NEVER lost an official match at the Azteca Stadium.

¡Un abrazo a todos, nos leemos en la próxima!
Well folks, that's all for today. I hope you enjoyed it.
¡Hugs to everyone, see you next time!
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