The problem is that Brazil does not have a good midfield here. It seems to me that Casemiro, Paulinho and Fernadinho are all defensive midfielders and that there is no creativity. They need a player like Arthur or at least a fit RA. I think that Tite using only defensive midfielders shows a little bit of panic on his part, not for this game alone but for the coming World Cup.
Poor, boring first half. Highlite was Coutinho’s caneta just to show you how boring. Come on Neymar. Come in and add some life and excitement to this team !
My issue is that when RA was dropped from the March friendlies, he should have brought in someone similar. Fernandinho is not that person and will never be. Now our only option for someone creative is RA who has barely played this year, been injured, and just isn't that good. EDIT: Just seen he took Fernandinho out for Coutinho. I have hope for Tite afterall.
What do we expect from that extremely safe central mid... I seriously hope they don't start all 3 of those together at the WC
I think we're still going to end up seeing that midfield at some point, maybe with Neymar and Coutinho wide (William off) having to do a lot of the work.
Neymar!!!!!!!! beautiful dribble and goal. Very few players can find space in a crowded box like that and then score a goal as well
That goal was astonishing. Finally a play with Brazil running towards the goal instead of always checking back. And what a way to finish it.
Yup, looked like a friendly, felt like a friendly, it's a friendly. Painful 1st half. Slightly more watchable 2nd half. The 3 DM thing was a Dunga throwback that doesn't need a comeback. No surprise that Brasil improved once one of them was taken off... Oh well, onto Austria.
Firmino made his case. I see some hope for our midfield variations, but overall still very worried about our response to early pressure and lack of options with that particular starting line-up.
In 2014 we had hernanes. He was a creative midfielder..He is only 32. He could have been a great option in the creativity sectiion. Its a shame that few of these guys chose money over career and thereby went under the radar after signing for Chinese clubs.
The midfield isn’t much better with RA in it than Fernandinho. If there is a weakness outside of RB, it is the midfield lacks variety. They all pretty much all the same.
I don’t recall ever being impressed with Hernanes in a Brazil shirt outside of 1 Olympic game and I was a big fan of him.
There were around 4 times in the 1st half where we could have played a more incisive pass through the midfield but whoever had the ball decided to pass it back. The option was there. Too much pussyfooting. Playing it too safe even if Croatia was very well organized. Definitely a better 2nd half. Willian was probably the best player out there. Coutinho is not a player that can lead unfortunately. But he should do well with Neymar on the field. Also a shaky start on defense trying to play the ball out from Miranda and some other occasions, but it got better as the game went a long. Croatia with some almost dangerous tackles out there. Not pleased with that.
Firmino is not a midfielder. If we go into the frontline or even the wide/offensive midfielders, it's a very different story but the concern is the options among: Casemiro, Fred, Fernandinho, Paulinho, Renato Augusto Either we play two of those with Coutinho or 3 of those. That's our midfield.
My heart was in my mouth after that fuking dirty studs up on Thiago Silva’s knee. That could have put him out of the WC. Thank God it was nothing. I agree, hate the tic tac back passing in the first half without pushing forward. I hadn’t seen that in previous games under Tite.
I really wish we could have seen more of Arthur in some friendly games. We do need some extra quality in the midfield. If RA gets cut I really don't want Luan.