A Day Of Sadness For Brazil Fans: Mexico Defeats Brazil 2-1 In The 2012 Olympic Final

Today was a day of sadness for Brazil football fans all over the world. We began by thinking that Brazil might clinch Olympic gold for the first time in its history. Instead, the match unfolded like a horror movie with everything going against plan from the 29th second onwards. It reminded me, and Brazil fans all over the world, of Brazil's tragic loss to France in the 1998 World Cup final. Now, we don’t know what will happen to Mano Menezes, the team at large and its players. Within the space of 90 minutes, the way forward for the Selecao suddenly became dark, unsure and lonely. Most of us respect the innovation that Menezes injected into the team by playing with high lines, ultra-attacking formations and players that are based in Brazil. But while we certainly need victories, we do not want to turn to the counter-attacking football of Carlos Dunga, Muricy Ramalho or Joel Santana.

We want attractive, stylish, attacking football that fields strikers that score goals. We want style and artistry on the pitch and creativity and freedom. To help the Selecao, in the months that follow, this blog will return to the history of the game, and bring back to life its greatest moments from Garrincha and Vava to Pele, Socrates, Zico, Romario, Bebeto, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Kaka. As a community of fans, let us insist that Brazil bring back the beautiful game while at the same time securing victories and trophies as well.

The 2014 World Cup is two years away. As fans, bloggers and journalists, let us fight to help Brazil by resurrecting the history of the game and reminding the world and Brazil itself of its glory as the greatest footballing nation of all time. Together, we will bring back the beautiful game to Brazil and the footballing world. And let us still believe that Brazil can lift the World Cup trophy in 2014.

A defeat is a defeat. We must walk away with our heads held high, because much progress was made during these few weeks at the 2012 London Olympics. At the same, we need to continue to rebuild as a team and allow Brazil to find its glorious, arrogant, attacking, free flowing true nature.

And congratulations to Mexico, which is gradually one becoming of the world's best footballing nations. Mexico will be one of the favorites for World Cup 2014, without any question.