Brasil: Nation Expects looks at how they coped with the huge pressure of being hosts and the burden of carrying the hopes of 200 million people.
In the wake of their their disintegration against Germany, the comments made by the players before the tournament started, assume a slightly surreal quality.
Here are a selection of quotes from some of the players who would play a key role in Brazil’s title challenge. The mood before the tournament could scarcely have been more buoyant.
“Pressure? What pressure. If you feel pressure you should try and find another sport.”
Neymar.
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“I know the pressure of playing in defence. And we can mistakes because we’re all human, it’s natural.”
David Luiz.
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“I think we will cope well with that pressure.”
Marcelo
“I am pretty sure nobody will want to go through that again” (talking about the tragic 1950 home World Cup final defeat to Uruguay)
Willian.
“Pressure, what pressure?”
Dani Alves.
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“They were not up for a battle. They were lacking in resilience. They went cold”
Uruguayan player from 1950 final (Alcides Ghiggia).
It was all looking so good until that night in Belo Horizonte.
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Brasil: A Nation Expects, from Universal Pictures (UK), out now on Blu-ray, DVD and collector’s Edition.
