Brazil's World Cup Loss to the Netherlands Reopens Wounds Just Beginning to Heal

Netherlands' Arjen Robben fights for the ball with Brazil's Paulinho, right, and Brazil's David Luiz during the World Cup third-place soccer match between Brazil and the Netherlands at the Estadio Nacional in Brasilia, Brazil, Saturday, July 12, 2014.

Image: Themba Hadebe/Associated Press

Brazil entered the consolation match of the World Cup against the Netherlands looking to salvage some respect after its disastrous loss to Germany.

With not much at stake, the match seemed to provide little opportunity for Brazil and a healthy dose of danger. Lose again and the massive defeat from Germany that dashed the country's hopes of celebrating a World Cup victory on its own soil would only be magnified.

While it was not the 7-1 thrashing that will be talked about for decades, the 3-0 defeat at the hands of the Netherlands had the feel of a game that only reopened the wounds of Brazilians that had just begun to heal.

Like the game against Germany, the pain started early. A controversial penalty to the Netherlands in the second minute gave Robin Van Persie the opportunity to bury his fourth goal of the tournament. Not long after, an errant David Luiz header found Daley Blind who made it 2-0 to the Netherlands in only the 16th minute.

The score held for the remainder of the half, as boos and tears chased the Brazilian team into the locker room.

Brazil threatened in the beginning of the second half, taking much of the possession. A shocking decision in the 68th minute, in which Oscar appeared to be fouled inside the box, resulted in the referee giving a yellow card to the Brazilian for diving.

The refereeing decisions were widely criticized, although few seemed to think Brazil deserved a better scoreline.

With the 2-0 score holding past the 85th minute, boos and whistles from the crowd increased.

A 90th minute goal from Geroginio Wijnaldum sealed Brazil's humiliation and its tournament. The home team played out the final five minutes of extra time to jeers from the crowd. Brazil and its fans will now hold out hope that their brutal World Cup finish will not be exacerbated by a win from their rivals from Argentina over Germany.

One piece of trivia popped up late in the game after a goalie substitution:

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