I wouldn’t read much into these friendlies they’re being played at a walking pace and it’s all about not getting injured for them. However, they were head and shoulders above the rest during qualifiers and just look very solid all around without too many weaknesses and with added x factor from Neymar, Coutinho, Willian, Jesus, Marcelo etc. While midfield containing Caseimiro, Fernandinho or Paulinho gives superb protection to their defenders which wasn’t the case last wc.
International Friendlies May/June
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
If Neymar didn't take every tiny knock as though he'd been shot by a sniper, I'd have a lot more sympathy for people targeting him for fouls. Some of the play-acting by this Brazil team is just nonsensical, especially for a friendly. On that note, Jesus really is a serial flopper and a whinger, isn't he? Terrific talent, but that's just part of the game that really turns me off.
Well i hope they do it. As i said, i do like them. But there's a nagging doubt there. It's more of a mental thing more than anything. They certainly got the talent, but have they got the mentality. That's where i doubt.
Imo Caseimiro and Neymar presence adds a lot of that winning mentality.
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Can’t argue against his talent though
Good work Willian and Neymar.
This Brazil team looks incredible.
3-0, Austria falling apart a bit.
Brazil not even out of 2nd gear here.
They look good. I hope they win it.
I have them as winners in all of my predictors.
Not at all. Brilliant to watch when they're in full flow, it's just the play-acting that makes it hard to full-throatedly root for them (as a total neutral, mind). Most of that Brazil team is capable of real magic, though, so I do make a point of tuning in for all their games.
This is very impressive. Austria has been on a 7 game winning run before this match and even beat Germany last match. And Brazil just dismantled them with such ease. This team means business.
One thing that really has impressed me with Brazil is their pressing. It's relentless and something you barely see in International football.
The right side of Austrian defense is really bad.
Willian always seems to make the right decision. Him and Fred together could be amazing for us. Hope we get him
Willian is a good player, dont understand why people on here dont rate him.
Simply can't understand the myth Germany, Spain or France are more favourites than Brazil.
They simply aren't, even the question of Spain or Germany having better units in midfield is debatable, unless if you want to believe only possesion based teams win tournaments.
The problem is... there is more than 1 way to win a short tournament, particularly knockout stages where with solid defensive organization and individual quality you are more than able to beat possesion football teams.
Quite frankly for me its Germany, Spain or France who are behind Brazil and not the opposite.
The constant dismissal of the job Tite has been doing since he took over Brazil is the same dismissive arrogance shown by the hypsters who only follow top leagues and don't know South American coaches.
Maybe I am wrong with this but Brazil will beat everyone who comes on their way, simple as that.
They simply aren't, even the question of Spain or Germany having better units in midfield is debatable, unless if you want to believe only possesion based teams win tournaments.
The problem is... there is more than 1 way to win a short tournament, particularly knockout stages where with solid defensive organization and individual quality you are more than able to beat possesion football teams.
Quite frankly for me its Germany, Spain or France who are behind Brazil and not the opposite.
The constant dismissal of the job Tite has been doing since he took over Brazil is the same dismissive arrogance shown by the hypsters who only follow top leagues and don't know South American coaches.
Maybe I am wrong with this but Brazil will beat everyone who comes on their way, simple as that.
Germany is the main favorite due to the long term work though.
Perhaps my friend, but I expect Brazil to be more solid than them, unless they have something very well hidden from their opponents.
The thing is, none of those current NTs are super dominant teams. Then the long term work is an advantage.
If both Germany and Brazil finish first in their groups and go ahead, its gonna be a hell of a final.
As a brazilian I don't feel excitement like in 2006. Not the same without Kaká Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. Where did time go...
Well according to the bookies Brazil are the favorites, so I don’t see a myth.
Definitely it's not the same hype at that time, but this team looks like much more solid and well-prepared to win the tournament in contrast with 2006. Ronaldo in poor shape especially in the first two matches, Adriano ineffective on the pitch, Cafu looked like only worried to break his own personal records and such just depicted the tip of the iceberg of that disgraceful exhibition. CBF didn't give a proper preparation for that squad. The last three matches before that World Cup began.
- Brazil 1 - 0 Russia (they failed to qualify for that WC and lost badly to Portugal)
- Brazil 8 - 0 FC Luzern (a team who took part in the second division of the Swiss national league)
- Brazil 4 - 0 New Zealand (they didn't even park the bus so much...)
Is this a great way to prepare a team for the most important tournament involving national teams? Not that did I think that Brazil would run over everyone in their path with such ease otherwise, but it was crystal clear for me that we threw away a golden opportunity to give WC'06 a special shine.
Although the current team doesn't seem as prodigious as the 2006's squad, it's undeniable that Brazil owns a very qualified one at their disposal. Tite showed that he can change the style of play according to the necessity without dropping off so much in quality, unlike the previous tournament where Brazil seemed unable to give a proper comeback after being trailing in a decisive match.
There is not much between Germany, Brazil, Spain and France squad wise. Tactical decisions, individual mistakes and form that day will decide these games. Hope all four are in the semis and let the best one win the competition eventually. I want to see football porn, hunger, determination and grit from them.
The 2006 team simply didn’t care and showed up overweight etc. It was the tail end of a golden generation between 94-2007 who had 6 or 7 Ballon D’Or caliber players (Romario, R9, Rivaldo, R10, Kaka, Cafu, RC) and elite supporting cast (Adriano, Mauro Silva, Ze Roberto, Bebeto, Lucio, Gilberto Silva, Juinho etc) and won basically everything or reached the finals.
Their other golden generation (58-70) also set a very high bar for Zico, Falcao, Careca, Junior generation who couldn’t win basically any title.
So I think it’s unfair to hold them to such high standards. Their squad right now is very good.
Their other golden generation (58-70) also set a very high bar for Zico, Falcao, Careca, Junior generation who couldn’t win basically any title.
So I think it’s unfair to hold them to such high standards. Their squad right now is very good.
You mean the mighty Austria couldn't stop them? Fvck!
Dont you heard about the (((ghost of 50)))? Everytime Brazil will play some important game against Uruguay you need to go through a barrage of headlines, interviews and revisited histories about the (((ghost))) (((of 50))). A final against Germany can't be worse.Oh the narratives and drama.
Oh I don't know.. Imagine Brazil choking again? Brazil's players either winning redemption or going into the history books as the shameful generation. The press and neutrals could feast on that for a week.
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I dont think this team would choke. A lot of experienced players who were in many important games in leagues and Champions League, some of them played finals of CL. In the start 11 only Alisson, Miranda and Willian are not the current champions in their respective leagues in Europe.
Its possible to win or lose to Germany, France, Argentina, Spain as always though
Also is not exactly the same generation. From the 23 players in 2014 only Neymar, Marcelo, Thiago Silva, Willian, Paulinho and Fernandinho are in the group in Russia.
I didn't mentioned the bookies, popular opinion, you just need to read some past posts here to confirm this.
What's Brazil's record in World Cup finals like? I imagine they are like the Real Madrid of the World Cup. If they do get to the final, it's inevitable they would win it. Germany reached the World Cup final 8 times and won 4 times so that's a 50% record which isn't that good. If Brazil meets Germany in the final, I really fancy Brazil to win it. Hope not though.
I don't think Brazil in particular are chokers, I was rather thinking that the pressure on them could turn out to be insane, which can sometimes harm even experienced and otherwise reliable players.
Cough … 7:1
I agree in principle … but how much pressure is needed to turn the best team in the world into cannon fodder?
Agree with that.
On the bolded bit - has anyone dismissed them/Tite? I've read mostly positive comments. Maybe the word "solid" is used a bit more - because they're still quite entertaining to watch. But that's about mostly the comments i've experienced.
Cough … 7:1
I agree in principle … but how much pressure is needed to turn the best team in the world into cannon fodder?
That's of course a question that can't really be answered.
I think it could happen but I wouldn't expect it, unless Germany somehow happen to find themselves up 3-0 again.
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I think the pressure sometimes is used as an excuse when you lose badly.
If you pick that Spain line up that lost 1-5 to Netherlands in 2014 for example, Piquet, Ramos, Alba, Busquets, David Silva, Iniesta and Diego Costa, 7 players that will be in their start 11 in Russia. If it was against Germany instead of Netherlands that day, it could have been even worse. I can't see any evidence of those players showing weakness under pressure during their careers.
This is more a characteristic of the modern game and current tactics that when your plan is not working against a strong opposition and you're not specialist in parking the bus, a terrible result can happen. We see it at club level. When the plan fail teams like Barcelona or City can be smashed awfully. I dont think its the pressure.
I don't think you can explain 4 goals in 6 minutes with just tactics. I mean look at the goals, the 4-0 in particular:
I'm not familiar with Brazilian culture, so I can only guess from afar, but to me it seemed that after the 2-0 or maybe 3-0 the team just collapsed under the pressure of their countrymen's hopes and expectations for their home world cup. David Luiz basically personified this impression.
I don't even see his as a huge flaw of the players, I think the public around the world often forgets that footballers are only humans themselves and not robots and as a result their treatment of them can often be very cruel.
I believe that our players mentally checked out even before the Germany game once Neymar was ruled out for the rest of the tournament. They feed off the crowd energy early on but after the 2nd goal, they quit.
David Luiz gets a lot of flack and rightly so but Marcelo was a disaster as well. Thiago Silva was an excellent partner for David Luiz as he covered his weakness and this is why his lost was underrated.
David Luiz gets a lot of flack and rightly so but Marcelo was a disaster as well. Thiago Silva was an excellent partner for David Luiz as he covered his weakness and this is why his lost was underrated.