It's funny how quickly things change in sport.
This time last week it seemed Brazil were destined to win their own World Cup, with decisions and events all going in their favour in the run up to their quarter final with Columbia.
Whether you cited luck or conspiracy for the above, something you couldn't argue with was the fact that the thousands upon thousands of Brazilian fans were managing to transmit an overwhelming positive vibe through our TV sets, you knew they believed their side could become champions in their own back yard, that they felt it was their national sides destiny to win the World Cup to add an unbalanced sixth star to their international crest.
Yet now, just hours before their World Cup Semi Final against an ever efficient German side you can feel the mass change in mood. The move away from expectation to desperate hope. The belief that once was there has now gone all because of one thing... the loss of the prodigal son Neymar.
True the loss of their captain Thiago Silva will also be greatly missed this evening, but the Brazilian fans would have coped with this and still been as confident as ever, it is the loss of their playmaker, their master in chief, their one exceptional talent that has shattered the nerves of so many fellow countryman.
True for many, myself included, Neymar had yet to really do it on the big stage having been overshadowed by a little known player by the name of Lionel Messi at Barcelona, but there was no doubt Neymar's stock was growing as the World Cup developed.
He was the one rough diamond in what has to be said is a far from vintage Brazilian side. Functional is the best way I can describe the sum of the sides other parts, which is not something you tend to say about the great Brazil sides of the 70's, 80's and 90's.
Yet this particular diamond was beginning to sparkle, shining light onto his team. Neymar was showing a maturity beyond his youthful years, growing with confidence as the tournament progressed despite the weight of over 20 million peoples hopes and dreams resting on his narrow shoulders.
Destiny seemed to be calling, with Brazil and Argentina drawn on opposite sides, the script for the final had almost been written, "the young pretender against his mentor" but alas we have been cruelly robbed of this prospect by what was essentially a very crude challenge in a hot and heated South American affair in the quarter final (although take nothing away from that game, I loved the fact that players were able to challenge like the old days without fear of a yellow card!)
True, Neymar's injury may not prevent Brazil getting to the final and players and coaches are doing there best to put a brave face on it with Soclari saying;
"Neymar has done his share. Now it's up to us to do our share. We have accepted what has happened and we are focusing on other things. In this match we will be playing not just for ourselves and everything we've ever dreamed of, but also for Neymar and everything he's done for us."
Yet with no real replacement of the same caliber and a feeling that the quotes being made are simply lip service and lack a real conviction, I expect a heart breaking end to the story for a country that has given us such a fabulous World Cup.
Perhaps it might be better that this dream is ended tonight with thoughts of what might have been, rather than suffer the ignominy of failure in the final of their own tournament, because not even the statue overlooking Rio can grant the miracle that would be required to win the World Cup for here.
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