The World Cup is coming up, Brazil is in great shape - but the good mood is suddenly destroyed. Blank racism hits the record world champion in the game against Tunisia in Paris. The team is angry, horrified, desperate - and has little hope.
The mixture of anger and desperation was clearly written on the face of Thiago Silva. "It's a shame. It's hard to endure such impressions," commented the visibly battered captain of the Brazilian national soccer team on the shocking level of racism that the record world champion had to endure in Paris: "It happens again and again. Unfortunately, it looks like it that we cannot change the attitudes of these people."
These "people" in the stands made sure that the Selecao's strong performance in the 5-1 (4-1) win against World Cup participants Tunisia in the Parc des Princes was degraded to a minor matter. The low points of the tragedy were a banana toss in the direction of goalscorer Richarlison, a veritable rain of projectiles when Pedro scored the final score, constant laser pointer attacks and booing of the Brazilian anthem.
It almost seemed as if the Brazilian players' anti-racism sign was what really incited the mob. "Without our black players, we wouldn't have any stars on our jerseys," read the banner that the pros of the five-time World Cup champions presented before kick-off - obviously in vain.
The incidents at Brazil's last friendly before the World Cup in Qatar (20 November to 18 December) left a shocked captain. "Hopefully these people will understand at some point that it doesn't work that way," said Thiago Silva: "That's the past, it needs a change. Hopefully the public will realize that these things are unacceptable."
The Brazilian association CBF, which lamented "another episode of racism in football", also expects this. National coach Tite could hardly believe what happened to him and his protégés. "I was confused," said the coach. "At first I thought it was just a lack of respect. Football is a sport for everyone."
Richarlison can no longer believe that. The striker of top English club Tottenham Hotspur has had enough of empty phrases and calls for rigorous action by the associations. "As long as they're just 'bla bla bla' and don't impose penalties, it's going to be the same - every day, everywhere," the 25-year-old tweeted.
At least it looks as if the Brazilians can give their answer on the pitch in Qatar. Seven wins in a row and a total of 15 games without defeat make Neymar and colleagues a hot title contender.
