The World Cup third-place play-off is a pointless sideshow that Holland and Brazil could do without - time to end it

Brazil and Holland will turn up in Brasilia on Saturday, go through the motions, and wave to their fans when really their hearts are broken

Pointless play-off: Holland coach Louis van Gaal (right) think Fifa should scrap third-place 

Louis van Gaal is right. The World Cup third-place play-off should be scrapped. The tie of tears can bring genuine joy for those who beat the other losing semi-finalist, as Sweden and Croatia showed in 1994 and 1998 respectively, returning home to rapturous receptions, but otherwise it is a pointless sideshow, simply a sop to broadcasters.

Brazil and Van Gaal's Holland will turn up in Brasilia on Saturday, go through the motions, and wave to their fans when really their hearts are broken, their legs weary and they just want to head off for a break after a season that for some began 50 weeks ago. Brazil fans, still smarting after that 7-1 loss to Germany, might have a few caustic comments for Luiz Felipe Scolari and some of his most-criticised players. Right said Fred - time for the bench. He'll be booed again if he starts.

It does gives Scolari and Van Gaal a chance to assess younger squad members, giving those who haven't featured a chance of experiencing the World Cup. It can give a famous player an opportunity to say farewell to fans as Oliver Kahn, the German keeper, did in his home country before 52,000 supporters in Stuttgart in 2006.

Calls to end the third-place game are, of course, slightly cruel as they deny a chance of a World Cup game on their CV to those who have waited patiently on the bench, watching others play. To end the play-off would frustrate fans; it is popular. The 1994 third-place play-off attracted a crowd of 91,000, and Fifa loves to sell tickets, merchandising and television rights, but it still remains an affront to a competitive concept.

It affects Fifa rankings. It can affect the chase for the Golden Shoe. Look at Toto Schillaci in 1990, Davor Suker in '98 and Thomas Muller in South Africa four years ago. They sealed individual awards because of a game deemed meaningless by many.