For the first time in 32 years, the defending champions will not open the World Cup and, for that, Brazil must be truly grateful.
Down the years, reputations of the mighty have been shattered when the first exchanges take place in the four-yearly tournament with memories still fresh of Cameroon’s win over Argentina in 1990 and Senegal’s stunning victory against France in 2002.
This year, for the first time since 1974, the holders will not open the month-long tournament following a Fifa ruling that the previous winners must qualify for the next tournament.
So the honour falls instead to hosts Germany who will start as favourites against Costa Rica in Munich on Friday.
Argentina will sympathise. After losing 1-0 to Belgium in Spain in 1982 in the tournament opener, they were picked off again in 1990 by Cameroon with Omam Biyik scoring the only goal.
”We were galvanised by playing against the world champions, it was a superb motivation,” said striker Roger Milla.
”And, of course, it was the team of Maradona.”
Despite that opening loss in Italy, Argentina still made it to the final losing out to West Germany.
In Seoul, in 2002, it was the turn of France to suffer. They went to Asia as world and European champions, but were undone by a Papa Diop goal in the 30th minute for the African minnows who were playing in their first finals.
In 1994, Germany beat Bolivia 1-0 in Chicago in a match played in suffocating heat, but it was a tired performance by the champions and they were eventually knocked out in the quarterfinals.
Four years later, Brazil needed an own goal from Tommy Boyd, 17 minutes from the end, to scrape a 2-1 win against Scotland in Paris.
Those expecting a thrilling opening game on Friday might be disappointed.
On three occasions, the eagerly-awaited opener has been a draw. Brazil and Yugoslavia in West Germany and Germany against Poland four years later in Argentina failed to produce a goal.
At least Mexico versus Bulgaria in Mexico in 1986 produced a goal apiece.
Since 1974, there have been eight opening matches with just nine goals to show. – AFP
