Mental discipline in this match was gone for the Coast.
Emotions, emotions, emotions.
I cannot blame Ericsson. In the first half, the Brazilians had 1 chance, and they scored. What can you do; the defender was there, stopped the ball, but Kaka got it out of him, and Luis Fabiano scored. It all happened so quickly.
After that, the Ivorians unravelled. The second goal, was a traversty, and the Ivorians should have protested more forcefully.
Having Kaka sent off may not be good for Ivory Coast; even though the bugger was doing nothing, he created the first goal, and if Portugal beat Brazil, the Brazilians can always say it is because Kaka was not there...
While the going was good, the Brazilian midfield was on its heels. However, with Drogba not being a hundred percent, Ivory Coast did not create scoring opportunities. I have less faith in this Brazil midfield today, than before...The layered defences teams (except the foolish Africans) are playing, make the importance of a playmaker in midfield, ala Messi, of inestimable value. Once a person like that gets through the first line, holes appear in the back 4 as someone comes up to challenge him, otherwise, you will run into blockages..
If Ivory Coast beat North Korea, they may have a chance to pull depending on what Portugal does against North Korea and Brazil. The idea situation would be for North Korea to beat Portugal...