There is crying in soccer, especially for Brazil at the World Cup

There is no crying in baseball. The precept is almost as old as the national pastime itself, as illustrated in the popular movie “A League Of Their Own.”

The same axiom evidently applies to soccer -- at least in Brazil, where the sport goes way beyond the pastime level to way-of-life status.

Some media types have associated the players’ penchant for getting all blubbery at the World Cup with a perceived lack of toughness. Close-ups of the team during the pre-game national anthem have caught weepy scenes. A few players shed tears -- presumably of joy, perhaps of relief -- over Brazil’s shootout win over Chile.

UPDATE: Brazil beats Colombia, advances to World Cup semifinals

Brazil is hardly the only team whose players were overtaken by emotion as the song of their homeland has blared out. But all of the watery eyes have raised legitimate questions.

In the case of Julio Cesar against Chile, the goalkeeper said his crying was prompted by the memory of taking the brunt of blame for Brazil’s failures at the 2010 tournament -- although his flowing tears began before the actual shootout and resumed afterward.

As criticism of the team from all angles has mounted, oddly, with each win, Coach Luis Felipe Scolari finally erupted Thursday, telling some reporters they can go to a fiery place down below where surely there is plenty of weeping.

Meantime, as pop singer Shakira works on her set list for the Cup’s closing ceremonies, she ought to consider an appropriate number: “Cry Me A River.”