Developers World Championship: Match Report - Portugal v Brazil (Group G)
Colorix (Portugal) vs Drums Challenge (Brazil)
VS BRAZIL Drums Challenge (MusiGames)
The final Group G encounter pitted top against bottom, as colonial masters, Portugal, went header-to-header with colonists, Brazil.
Even though the European side had little to play for in terms of the tournament, having been eliminated prior to kick-off, the opportunity to derail its old enemy’s title ambitions and plant a flag for Portugal's development pride served as inspiration enough.
As noted previously, though, the Portuguese iPhone Gaming Association hadn’t exactly helped its nation’s cause in the days leading up to the opening ceremony. By failing to submit three entries for the squad, Awesome Software’s match-three puzzler, Colorix, was left to single-handedly carry the burden once again.
Hoping to take advantage of the inevitable lethargy among Colorix’s troops was MusiGames’ third representative, Drums Challenge, a music rhythm game of pounding intensity.
Could the Portuguese sail off back to the Iberian Peninsula with a notable scalp and make Vasco da Gama (the explorer, not the Brazilian club side) mildly proud in the process?
Or would the Samba boys continue their ominously unbeaten run at this year’s iPhone Game Developers World Champs?
All would soon be revealed...
Kick Off: 3pm, 25th June
The critical view: England v Scotland. England v Australia. England v Germany, France or Argentina. We tea-loving, upper lip-stiffening, strawberry-munching islanders had picked up one or seventeen foes along the great sporting path of the 20th Century.
Portugal v Brazil, however, was a relationship with an even longer history that transcended footballing rivalry. In that first quarter of an hour, there wasn’t a bottled tackle, an unmarked striker, or a pleasant word in sight.
At a minor break in play and a fracture to their left back’s leg, Colorix’s physio dashed onto the pitch, tendering one magic sponge, a can of Brylcream (for Ronaldo, of course) and a Bronze Award.
Suitably galvanised, Portugal’s colourful attack worked a perfect one-two combo down the byline, before making a lateral cross for the onrushing centre forward to crash home a special, special opener.
With the tension eased, their forward line began to showboat, throwing in rainbow kick marbles, double taps, and inventive patterns for all to enjoy, bar the Brazilians.
For its part, Drums Challenge tried manfully to unlock the tight Portugal rearguard, but individual components kept letting them down.
Repeating this futile sequence of events over and over again frustrated the Brazilian management no end. Coaches and substitutes were desperately trying to drum into the first XI the need for some freestyle flair, but to no avail.
Thus, it was Eusébio, CRonaldo, and Colorix who'd beaten Pelé, Kaká, and MusiGames to the first half punch.
Half time: Portugal 1 – 0 Brazil The Fans’ 45: In both previous rounds of group games, Brazil's passionate following hadn't just stepped up to the plate, they had proceeded to clobber the ball out of the park. With rhythmic feeling.When the national team needed them most, clearly they wouldn't disappoint. So it proved once more, as Drums Challenge's OpenFeint link-up play and eight replica drum kits tore into its opponents from the second half whistle.
Colorix's all-too-taxing schedule was taking its toll, and the omission of a multiplayer mode in defence was its final undoing. Awesome Software's backline were looking anything but, as the Latin Americans called the tune, peppering the goalmouth with percussive shots.
Inevitably, some cymbalic strikes were soon added and two crisply struck goals in as many minutes (the first from a rhythmic string of passes, the second a fine solo effort) saw Brazil take the lead.
With their noses in front and a perfect record assured, the Samba boys lowered the tempo again and offered a (music) lesson in metronomic passing, frustrating the Portuguese into an exhausting chasing game until the relief of the final whistle.
Confident and composed, the Brazilians deserved to top the table and to their credit also showed championship class in forgetting initial animosities to swap shirts, shake hands, and console the deflated and fatigued Portuguese players.
Clearly there'd be tougher gigs to come, but for now the Samba boys deserved their party. But would it be the Irish or the Swedes who'd join the Group G winners on tour?
Full time: Portugal 1 – 2 Brazil Latest Group Tables - Fixtures & Voting - SquadsConfused? Click here to go to the iPhone Game Developers World Championship info page.
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