Brazil's misery as World Cup hosts deepened

Brazil's misery as World Cup hosts was deepened and finally nailed in the coffin at the National Stadium in Brasilia on Saturday night.

The Netherlands who showed no mercy in their third-place match roundly beat 3-0 to leave them further disappointed and dejected at a tournament many had tipped them to carry the trophy for the sixth time.

Two first half goals coming early in the third and 16th minutes and a late one after 90 minutes proved too cruel to the hosts, whose players and supporters could not hold their tears when the final whistle went.

Among them on the bench, wiping tears from their faces, was the injured Neymar Jnr, who was a pitiable sight.

They had before the match assured their fans not to boycott it, an appeal that was championed by their coach, Felipe Scolari, who kept saying they had "something to play for", to appease the entire nation after the embarrassing 7-1 loss to Germany in last Tuesday's semi-final.

But Brazilians love their football and their Selecao (national team) and filled the stadium to give the support that the team had not lacked throughout the tournament.

However, by the third minute they were down through a penalty goal by Dutch captain, Robben van Persie, after the returning Brazilian captain, Thiago Silva, was adjudged to have fouled Arjen Robben, in an incident that rather appeared to have occurred at the edge of the box.

But if there were doubts about that goal, those by Daley Blind 13 minutes later and Georginio Wijnaldum a minute inside injury time must have been without questions.

The three goals have added to Brazil's total of 13 conceded at this tournament (10 in two matches) and the highest they had ever conceded at any tournament