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2002 World Cup-winning captain of the Brazilian side Cafu was thrown out of the Selecao's changing room after their 7-1 decimation at the hands of Germany on Tuesday, July 8.
Braces from Toni Kroos and Andre Schurrle, and goals apiece from Miroslav Klose, Thomas Muller and Sami Khedira completed a 7-1 rout for Germany against the hosts at the Belo Horizonte. The loss was Brazil's biggest ever since their 6-0 defeat to Uruguay at the Copa America in 1920.
And former skipper and legend Cafu wanted to console his nation's players after the shattering loss. But the former Brazil defender was thrown out of the dressing room. The reason for this shameful incident was the ignorance of Brazil football federation president, Jose Maria Marin, who failed to recognize him.
"Jose Maria Marin said he didn’t want any strange people in the dressing room," Cafu revealed. The 44-year-old also admitted that Marin didn't seem to recognize him. "I told him that I wasn't a 'strange person', that I was just there to give the boys a hug and comfort them. To my surprise, I was practically thrown out."
The former right-back is the most capped player in Brazil's footballing history, and has had his shares of dissapointments. He was part of the team that lost to France in the 1998 World Cup final. And this time around, the Selecao veteran wanted to offer words of consolation and support to his country's players. "I endured a similar thing back in 1998 and I know what a World Cup defeat feels like. I knew the boys needed some attention and needed to be comforted at that moment. I wasn't there for self-promotion, I don't need this kind of thing. I went to give a hug to Felipao and [Carlos Alberto] Parreira."
Belo Horizonte and the events that unfolded there on Tuesday night will haunt Brazil for years to come. The five-time champions have not only been sent out of the semi-finals but have been brought down to their knees and their frailties exposed.
But what seems to be a matter of further shame is when a nation's football federation doesn't seem to recognize one of it’s former World Cup winning leader, and a veteran of 144 caps.
