Brazil 3 Ghana 0
It wasn't pretty, but Brazil advanced. And they passed one of the most difficult tests in doing so. Ghana plays with more speed and physical power than any other team in the tournament. Brazil was harrassed on the ball all day in a manner that they won't see again. Brazil faced the fastest counterattack in the Cup. And if Ghana had had a decente forward, well, Ghana might still be playing and there might have been an existential crisis in Brazil. But Ghana, land of Abedi Pelé and Tony Yeboah, doesn't have a decent forward.
Tostão was unhappy with Parreira (and the sun rose in the East, and water remained wet, for how many days in a row now?) for withdrawing the midfield and counterattacking. Tostão said that it was difficult to tell which was the "big" team and which was "small." He didn't feel that any injustice was done by the result (despite the obviously offside goal Adriano scored). But Brazil has to play better on Saturday against the French (Brazil's first strong opponent, according to Tostão).
If Robinho is healthy on Saturday then Brazil should play a better game. I will make it clear yet again: I don't think Robinho is a very good player. He has lots of nice little tricks with the ball, and no idea what to do with them. Andrew Downie, writing on Soccernet, called Robinho the most complete player to leave Brazil for Europe since Zico, which goes to show that the drugs are better in Rio than they are in Recife. Robinho looks thrilled to receive the ball, but then he looks like he doesn't know what to do with it. Experienced defenders can herd him to the sidelines where he has to pass the ball to someone else. But Robinho doesn't help the team with his dribbling. Robinho helps the team with his running. Both Ronaldão and Adriano are almost stationary forwards. Robinho is in constant movement, pulling defenders with him and opening space for Ronaldinho Gaúcho and Kaká to enter. When the midfielders enter that space, the defenders have to react, and that leaves Ronaldão free to receive the ball in front of the goal. Without even touching the ball Robinho makes Brazil a better team. But that doesn't mean he's ever going to be a world-class player...
France is up next, and France was horrendous in the group stage. They played better yesterday, but the Spanish players seemed to lose their way in the second half and made it easier than it should have been. It will be nice to see a rematch of the 1998 final (which the vast majority of Brazilians are convinced was bought), and this time Brazil should come out on top. Brazil is talented enough to have the luxury of playing poorly and winning against most oppositiong. Let's hope they play well in their victory over France.
Tostão was unhappy with Parreira (and the sun rose in the East, and water remained wet, for how many days in a row now?) for withdrawing the midfield and counterattacking. Tostão said that it was difficult to tell which was the "big" team and which was "small." He didn't feel that any injustice was done by the result (despite the obviously offside goal Adriano scored). But Brazil has to play better on Saturday against the French (Brazil's first strong opponent, according to Tostão).
If Robinho is healthy on Saturday then Brazil should play a better game. I will make it clear yet again: I don't think Robinho is a very good player. He has lots of nice little tricks with the ball, and no idea what to do with them. Andrew Downie, writing on Soccernet, called Robinho the most complete player to leave Brazil for Europe since Zico, which goes to show that the drugs are better in Rio than they are in Recife. Robinho looks thrilled to receive the ball, but then he looks like he doesn't know what to do with it. Experienced defenders can herd him to the sidelines where he has to pass the ball to someone else. But Robinho doesn't help the team with his dribbling. Robinho helps the team with his running. Both Ronaldão and Adriano are almost stationary forwards. Robinho is in constant movement, pulling defenders with him and opening space for Ronaldinho Gaúcho and Kaká to enter. When the midfielders enter that space, the defenders have to react, and that leaves Ronaldão free to receive the ball in front of the goal. Without even touching the ball Robinho makes Brazil a better team. But that doesn't mean he's ever going to be a world-class player...
France is up next, and France was horrendous in the group stage. They played better yesterday, but the Spanish players seemed to lose their way in the second half and made it easier than it should have been. It will be nice to see a rematch of the 1998 final (which the vast majority of Brazilians are convinced was bought), and this time Brazil should come out on top. Brazil is talented enough to have the luxury of playing poorly and winning against most oppositiong. Let's hope they play well in their victory over France.
posted by Venha Futuro at 11:11 AM
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