Two national tragedies struck Brazil late last week. In the city of Belo Horizonte, an overpass collapsed, killing two people. The following day, Brazil played Colombia in the quarter final of the World Cup. Brazil won the match – but Neymar, the team’s star and national posterboy, suffered a back injury that will keep him out of the rest of the tournament.

It is fair to say that, of the two incidents, Neymar’s fractured vertebrae has attracted far more media anguish than the shoddy workmanship that cost the lives of two of his fellow-citizens. Brazil seems to be living by the maxim of Bill Shankly, the legendary football manager best known for his time at Liverpool, who famously remarked: “Some people believe football is a matter of life and death?.?.?.?I can assure you, it is much, much more important than that.”

The two incidents show why Brazil’s brilliance at football can be a curse, as well as a blessing. The reasons to celebrate the country’s footballing prowess are obvious. Brazilian teams have given joy to millions all over the world. The yellow jersey of the Sele??o, even more than the Amazon or the beaches of Rio de Janeiro, is the nation’s calling card. But Brazil’s brilliant football has sometimes seemed to serve not as an inspiration to brilliance in other areas of life – but as an alternative.