Casemiro out for the Belgium game. Funny, I was reading the first few pages of the world cup thread and someone on there said that had a feeling Fernandinho was gonna come up big some time during the tournament. Hope that poster still feels the same....
This is going to be obviously a tough game. Offensively, they are the most organized and talented team we’ve played. From what I’ve seen so far , their mid - forward is more organized than ours . They have a solid midfield and Lukaku as a clear forward who may not be technical, but if given service can score goals. I wouldn’t take the Japan game as a barometer for how good they are. They may not play as open and loose against us. They also come in better shape IMO having breezed through an easy group and resting players in the third game. I kind of wish this game was in Samara in the heat as opposed to the Mexico game as we would have an advantage there. It’s 50/50 IMO.
They can hurt us in the air as well. Meunir and De Brunye are great crosser. Fagner vs Hazard has the potential to be a disaster. I was hoping Tite opted for Marquinhos. I don’t think they will press us like Mexico did and they might play more conservative. If they opt for the 3-4-3; I think that an advantage for us.
I agree that Belgium’s offense has been sharper amd more clinical than ours. Tite’s defensive scheme will have a huge challenge , and all this without Casemiro. So I’m very nervous about that. On the other hand, their defense is built to be exploited by a team like ours. All 3 CBs are slow and on the wrong side of 30 and they can’t singlehandedly deal with our wingers plus the agility of Jesus. They will need much support from their midfield, otherwise they’ll be torched. The problem there is that their midfield wingers leave a lot of space and Carrasco in particular is a lousy defender (I don’t think he’ll start). Their DM is not trustful either, he had a lousy game vs Japan and was sleeping on the wheel on both their goals. He’ll have to hold De Bruyne more for support, which plays to our advantage. In short, I don’t think Brazil can hold a clean sheet in this game, but on the other hand, their defensive scheme is probably the most vulnerable that we’ll have faced so far. Something like a 3-2 game in our favor is what I expect.
If we win this game with the defense playing well it is one hand on the trophy IMO. Belgium’s offense is the best in the tournament and if we can handle that, we can surely be able to handle a more conservative and inconsistent France offense or a Uruguay without Cavani.
They play 3-4-3 with KDB dropping deep to collect the ball. He can play long balls from there or advance the ball through the wing backs who provide width. It will be interesting how Tite deals with him. If he drops too deep Jesus can try and press him and give first combat. Japan broke them down with high tempo and very crisp accurate quick passing with great movement. Belgium doesn't have good natural full backs so changing to 4 in the back may be difficult for them. Carrasco is a winger at Atletico and Munier is an average FB at PSG. I might prefer playing Danilo over in this game Fagner to be honest. Just in case Lukaku falls over to the left on some plays and gets isolated with him on a cross. It's interesting that Tite had a good formation in qualifiers but he is having to tweak so much (partially due to form and injuries) during the competition to get things to work. The other contenders left (France, Belgium, England, Croatia) I think are all pretty set on how they play. It shows flexibility but at the same time, I'd like to have something solid set. On the other hand, teams that studied how we played well may not be ready for these tactical shifts.
Another thing I’m concerned about is at certain points in every match, we lose control of the midfield and have trouble getting out of our own half. It seems to improve when Fernandinho is paired with Casemiro but we lose that option for this game.
That is a concern. At least Fernandinho is a better passer than Casemiro, especially in this WC and can cut down on turnovers. Coutinho will have to step up in this game on both sides of the field.
My gut. Bom post. A flexibilidade pra evoluir e continuar o aperfeiçoamento do nosso jogo durante a Copa é exatamente como conquistamos 5 titulos. Em 2002, sofremos pra dominar o meio campo contra a Belgica Nas oitavas. Só melhorou quando o Felipão botou o Kléberson no lugar do Juninho Paulista. Antes disso, nos não tinhamos um padrão bom de jogo. Tivemos sorte com o gol mal-anulado do Wilmots, e porque o Rivaldo era craque incontestável. Nessa copa tá faltando um pouquinho de tweaking ainda. Mas a base até agora tem cido bem mas solida.
rep for anyone who can find me a projected belgium lineup from training. I assume they will keep the same formation but I need to be sure for $$$$$
Nothing will change from the Japan game in all likelihood. If something does change, it will most likely be Chadli starting instead of Carrasco.
Fernandinho is not that bad....I hope he can cover up casemiro's absence. I heard that paulinho didn't train properly due to some injury......Don't know whether the news is correct or not.
Fagner is too puny for my liking...But whoever takes the RB position may be have to huff and puff for the entire match to stop that creature named eden hazard. Btw you expect marquinhos in place of casemiro ( in DM position ? )
I've also noticed by watching some of the Belgium x Japan game that they do the same thing as England when defending (and what has been very popular in the EPL). The wing backs pull back quick when not in possession and create a back line of 5 essentially creating a 5-4-1 or 5-2-2-1 depending on how far back Hazard and Mertens drop back. That means fining width for Neymar and Willian will be tough unless we hit them quick when gaining the ball. This is the formation that frustrated Tite in that friendly vs England. I hope he thought long about how to break that down.
Jesus should not start....He is working hard but nothing is working for him at the moment. Firmono is the need of the hour now.
I disagree nothing is working for him but I am OK either way. Just keep in mind that Firmino has ever really had a good match for Brazil when starting (that I can remember). At 1 x 0 vs Mexico Neymar scuffed a shot wide that Jesus was wide open on the right unmarked waiting to score. If he gets that pass we are probably not talking about this right now. I still think we won't solve anything by switching Jesus to Firmino. It's not as if Jesus is choking away chances. As a good omen, Tostão 70 and Vavá 62 scored their first goals in the QFs ... granted there was no R16 back then.
Douglas costa declared fit vs belgium... great news... http://www.sambafoot.com/en/news/92746_douglas_costa_fit_for_belgium_clash.html
Now that costa is fit, tite has more headache. The dilemma is 1. Willian or costa 2. Marcelo or luis 3. Fagner or danilo 4. Firmino or Jesus We are spoilt for choice.
This only works if they bunker as england did in that friendly. I don’t think they will. In a balanced look their wingers leave a lot of space, so I don’t think the England game is comparable.
That is my bet as well. Carrasco looking after Willian would be a great liability for Belgium in this game. Martinez is not crazy.
They will obviously come out of that formation when they have the ball and attack, but it's clear that when the other team has the ball and advances through the field, they quickly drop to a back 5. That's why I say to find that space on the wings, you have to hit them quick. https://imgur.com/0Oak5P9 https://imgur.com/kbIIqye
I understand that they drop to 5 in the back when they are defending, they’ve always done this. My point is that their wing backs are not as disciplined to do this consistently as the wing backs of England in that friendly, for example. Or other EPL teams that do this well. That’s why they leave more space, they get caught out of position more often. Just watch the first Japan goal again to see what I mean.