Lacking flair?
OK, before I talk about just how good Brazil were let’s clear up the Kaka sending-off. It came at a stage of the game when Ivory Coast had lost their heads, Kader Keita ran into Kaka and the two collided. If anything, Kaka’s upper arm collided with Keita’s chest. The Ivory Coast player fell to the floor writhing in agony clutching his face despite no contact whatever anywhere near his face. It was disgraceful.
We can only hope that FIFA show some common sense and rescind Kaka’s second yellow card and ban Keita for his disgusting actions instead. He had already been yellow carded for a horrible late and high challenge on Felipe Melo. Keita only had twenty-two minutes on the pitch and he should be ashamed of them.
That’s got the nasty part out of the way, apart from the pretty horrible challenge by Tiote that saw Elano stretchered off and the referee who had a poor night didn’t even see that tackle as being worthy of a yellow card. Over the ball and studs up and late always used to be a yellow card didn’t it?
Functional
Brazil are described as a functional team under Dunga. It is said that they don’t have the natural flair that we associate with the great Brazil teams of the past. They play with two holding midfielders and they play in a compact and organised way.
Despite that I saw plenty of individual and team flair last night. I think the reason they have been described as functional could just be because they are better at defending than they have been before.
Excellent
Julio Cesar is an excellent keeper and Maicon is an exceptional right back. I didn’t think anyone would ever successfully fill the boots of the great Cafu but this man does just that. He bombs backwards and forwards down that right touchline for ninety minutes being an essential part of their defence and their attack.
Michel Bastos may be the only weak link as he doesn’t look like a left back, but he is protected well and he has a sweet left foot.
Strong
If there is a better centre-back in the world than Lucio I certainly haven’t seen him. Quick, strong, good in the air, good on the ground, great positional sense, strong tackler, you name it he’s got it. Alongside him Juan was even better than him last night.
The two holding players Felipe Melo and Gilberto Siva are hard working and effective. They play it simple but they protect the defence and allow the likes of Maicon to roam forward knowing he is covered.
Flair
Elano, Kaka and Robinho can hardly be described as functional players who lack flair. Elano has scored two in two and looks good and I hope his injury isn’t too serious. Kaka looks a yard short of his best but he showed signs, when making the first and third goals for example, that he is coming back. Robinho wasn’t as good last night as he was in the first game but he is a real handful for any opposition.
I wasn’t sure about Luis Fabiano before last night but his first goal was a stunning finish and his second goal was fantastic individual skill although the referee did somehow fail to see two handballs in the build up. Strange that, as he was looking straight at it yet he saw Kaka do something when he was looking completely the other way.
Movement
Brazil’s passing and movement was scintillating at times and they totally outclassed what was a pretty good Ivory Coast side. They showed England that it is possible to pass and control this ball and even have a shot with it.
In both of their games so far Brazil have switched off a little after they have gone into a comfortable lead. As long as they manage to stop doing that and play for the whole ninety minutes I find it difficult to see anyone beating them.
Quality
If this side is functional and has little flair then I wonder how you would describe Italy or England or France? They are a side of great quality who keep possession with style, panache and purpose. I love watching them and so should anyone who loves football played in the right way.
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