Out of nowhere, nice pass into the box but Coutinho turns it into a one on one with the keeper brilliantly. Brazil has been very poor. Fred, Willian, all getting the ball but not finding anyone in front of them and nothing happening in the offensive half.
Nice unselfish pass by Elias after making a nice run and beating one man to get into the box. Tardelli taps it in. 2x0 As poor as we have been the two goals have come on very solid runs into space, something I am very happy to see.
And Elias isn't being hotheaded and reckless like he was in his earlier caps which is good!! Europe will be calling.
2-0 HT. We were pretty dreadful in the attack, save for the two sparks of inspiration that led to the goals. Our game isn't flowing, the players aren't clicking together. Also, I still don't know what position Fred plays in, but certainly the one he is playing today isn't it. Tardelli scored, but I think he is dropping back waaay too much, several times we didn't really have a focus in our attack due to his wandering. Mexico is missing a truckload of players, their focus really is the Gold Cup... Makes me wonder if it's really worth it to invite them to play CA at all. Even so, they pressured us and even dominated us for a while. They had their chances to score but fortunately they failed, but they did some damage to our defense. This is troubling. I'd Fix Tardelli as a CF, sub Firmino in for Fred and use him as a AMF. In a unrelated note, I find the Mexican coach's face to be so delightfuly punchable. I don't understand it myself lol.
What Baka said. Tardelli's positioning has been baffling, but fortunately on Elias' run he was exactly where the CF needs to be. The midfield has looked congested and empty all at once. Little movement and too many people behind where the ball is. Fred is playing an offensive position, as is Willian, as is Coutinho, but too often only one of them is doing it at a time and Tardelli is sometimes dropping back despite having those three providers in theory. Definitely want to see Firmino and a change in midfield for the second half.
Tardelli dropping back wouldn't be an issue if Neymar was there as he would of occupied the space and made the necessary run.
Fabinho in for Danilo as the second half starts (Danilo took a hard tackle near the end of the first half).
And we hope everything is good with Danilo, but if push comes to shove...Marquinhos can play right back as well!!
20 mins to go, not much happening. Brazil getting wide more consistently but not getting in the box. Everton Ribeiro in for Coutinho.