BRASILIA: Brazil’s state President Dilma Rousseff  has thanked the players and management staff of the beaten Selecao for their efforts at the 2014 World Cup finals writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

Luiz Felipe Scolari and his players ended up as the one perceived failure of the finals’ host nation to rise to the occasion. After their historic 7-1 defeat by Germany in the semi-finals they lost 3-0 to Holland in the third place play-off in Brasilia.

Those defeats prompted media demands for Scolari to step down and led several of the senior players – including centre-forward Fred – to say they wished to retire from international football.

Rousseff, however, writing before presenting the World Cup to German captain Philipp Lahm in Maracana, insisted that they should all draw credit from the overall success of the finals.

She said:

“Dear players and Technical Commission,

You – and Brazilian football – are greater than any passing result.

What will remain stronger in the hearts of our people are the moments of joy you have given us in this World Cup and the ones you will certainly ensure us in future World Cups.

]Especially because all of us, without exception, will be able to use the lessons learned today to make our football even better – inside and outside the stadiums.

This is how we further expand the successful history of our Seleção. 

We, Brazilians, may not have won the trophy, but we have hosted the Cup of Cups.

And without you, that would have never been possible.

Please accept our affection and most sincere thanks.

 Dilma Rousseff”

################