Brazil 2-0 USA – nightmare is over as Brazil get back to their irresistible best
August 10, 2010 at 23:35 9 comments
Neymar scores on his debut. Well, what else did you expect?
Four years of crap was flushed away in New Jersey last night as Brazil returned to the flamboyant style we all know and love. In his first game in charge of Brazil, Mano Menezes and his bright young things did much to erase the memory of the drab, unadventurous football the world had to endure under previous coach, Dunga.
The South Americans struck twice through Neymar and Alexandre Pato but could have had a hatful against a competitive USA in a very enjoyable friendly in New Jersey.
With an enthusiastic home crowd behind them, the USA got off to a bright start. But after weathering an early storm, Brazil began to play the type of enchanting football everyone associates with the South Americans.
Once they stopped giving the ball away, Brazil quickly took control. From early on it was clear that the Yellow and Blues were much more balanced than they were under their predecessor. Menezes had set his team up with just the right blend of defence and creativity. Despite fielding three forwards, there was always plenty of cover in midfield. Robinho in particular worked his socks off (yes, Man City fans, I said Robinho).
Excellent use of the width led to both goals. And although physically lightweight, forwards Neymar and Alexandre Pato showed they have what it takes to unlock defences and take their chances. Pacey and skilful, Neymar and Pato frightened the life out of the US backline every time they got the ball. Neymar especially, was confident and cocky and totally unfazed on his debut and you could almost sense the big boys in the Premiership dusting off their cheque books ready to match Santos’ asking price for the 18-year-old. Teammate Paulo Henrique Ganso was elegant and thoughtful throughout and came very close to making it 3-0 when he struck the post.
Altogether, it was a fabulous start by Menezes. It’s hard to believe that the Brazilian Football Confederation’s first choice to replace Dunga – Muricy Ramalho – would have had Brazil playing like this.
Full marks to Brazil and Mano Menezes. The coach has set himself an extremely high benchmark though only Brazilians will expect that his team perform like this every game. Of course, it’s far too early to get carried away. Let’s remember that this was just a friendly against combative but not top notch opposition. But if this is how it’s going to be under Mano Menezes, then more of it.
USA: Howard (Guzan), Spector, Bocanegra (Goodson), Bradley, Gonzalez, Donovan (Findley), Bedoya (Gomez), Bornstein, Buddle (Altidore), Edu, Benny Feihaber (Kljestan)
Coach: Bob Bradley
Brazil: Victor, Daniel Alves, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, André Santos, Lucas, Ramires (Hernanes), Ganso (Jucilei), Robinho (Diego Tardelli), Neymar (Ederson) (Carlos Eduardo), Alexandre Pato (André)
Coach: Mano Menezes
Gols: Neymar, 28; Alexandre Pato, 45
Yellows: David Luiz (BRA)
Attendance: 77.223
Date: 10/08/2010
Venue: New Meadowlands Stadium, New Jersey, USA
Officials: Silviu Petrescu, Joe Fletcher, Daniel Belleau (all Canada)
Entry filed under: Brazil squad. Tags: Brazil 2-0 USA 10 August 2010, Manchester City, Mano Manezes, Neymar, Paulo Henrique Ganso, Robinho.
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1. Martin | August 11, 2010 at 02:49
So what was Dunga thinking when watching this game? Brazil’s youngsters put on a show. And I am a fan of Ganso and Neymar. Two real joys to watch who should only get better. And two players who should have been reserves in South Africa. Watching Andre Santos play and after seeing his picture perfect cross for Neymar’s headed goal, I was left thinking he too should have been on Dunga’s team. For some reason he was dropped after the Confederations Cup even though he had played pretty decently there.
Robinho looked very comfortable in a free role behind Pato, and did anybody else notice but Pato looked much stronger than he has before. Looks like he has been pumping iron all summer.
I also thought Lucas did a pretty good job in central midfield although to be honest the US did not really test him much. But Lucas once he retrieved the ball, kept it moving pretty quickly.
Overall a very good debut game for Mano Menezes as coach and for many of the new players brought into the team.
2. Mike | August 11, 2010 at 19:42
Amazing stuff. I admit that I was not sure if Menezes was the right choice, but many of those doubts could be erased if Brazil do this again.
3. Jun Noguchi | August 11, 2010 at 20:02
I guess Brazilians would only have been happier if they had the chance to watch the game as Globo TV preferred to present the Soap Opera instead of the game!!!! It’s a shame that only the cable tv watchers manage to see the awesome SELESANTOS playing!!! That’s what’s Brazilian football is all about!!!
4. Daniel powell | August 12, 2010 at 04:53
love it!!!
5. Alex | August 13, 2010 at 09:23
After ONE game (a friendly at that vs the US) the nightmare is over you write, the praises of Mano Menezes you sing and Dunga you dismiss. Brings to mind the story told in Charlie’s War of the old Zen master.
………….
A boy is given a horse on his 14th birthday. Everyone in the village says, “Oh how wonderful.” But a Zen master who lives in the village says, “We shall see.”
The boy falls off the horse and breaks his foot. Everyone in the village says, “Oh how awful.” The Zen master says, “We shall see.”
The village is thrown into war and all the young men have to go to war. But, because of the broken foot, the boy stays behind. Everyone says, “Oh, how wonderful.” The Zen master says, “We shall see.”
………………
I too love o jogo bonito but after only ONE game is this team the Brazil of 1982….”We shall see.”
That’s my two pence for what it’s worth!
6. Daniel Powell | August 13, 2010 at 19:33
alex, you need to get out mate! it was a good win from a young side no one says this will be the squad in four years, i imagine half will fall short along with stronger players coming back in.
thats my 50 pence!
7. Didi | August 14, 2010 at 01:18
Hi,
actually I would love to see Douglas Costa, Luiz Alberto and Hulk also in the squad … do you have a letest news of them … ? 🙂
8. Alex | August 14, 2010 at 09:18
Daniel you may be right, I may need to get out but what does that have to do with the price of tea in China?
Seeing that you like suggestions here are a few:
1. Get some glasses, “Nightmare over…Brazil returned to the flamboyant style we all know and love” “Four years of crap was flushed away…” My point which obvious you missed is it is far too early to make any definitive statement as to Mono’s reign and silly to disrespect Dunga.
2. try ice skating, if you want to be judged on style. Critics be damned, I respect Dunga, he understood the name of the game is winning. Dunga had the best performance among the Brazil coaches in the last decade. In 57 games, he racked up 40 wins, 11 draws, and only suffered 6 defeats. A success rate of 76.6 percent, surpassing the 73.2 percent of Carlos Alberto Parreira in his last mandate, and 74.3 percent of 2002 champion Luis Felipe Scolari.
That’s my two pence for what it’s worth.
PS: 50 pence; get a new tagline
9. Daniel Powell | August 16, 2010 at 17:39
You clearly can’t comment on brazilian football then, you sound like you could get on better with italian football! brazilian’s dont want 10 games winning 1-0, they want the world cup back where it should be and playing samba style football. why don’t you go over to rio and remind them that dunga had the best win rate!
The price of tea in china, your banter is brilliant! you could possible be the most boring person ever! do you work for opta index??
Menezes has started off on the right note and long may that continue! attacking football will always prevail, its what made brasil.You cant change that.
2 Bucks for what its worth