Sneijder Gives Brazil The Blues
From an early age I learned that no team really beats Brazil, but rather Brazil beats itself. Similar to the Canadian men's hockey team, the talent in Brazil can easily field three to four World Cup teams that are capable of contending for the title. However, this version of the Selecao did not play football in the manner of previous versions. Dunga focused on defensive responsibilities and counterattacking football in what some in the media dubbed as pragmatic football. Dunga silenced his critics by winning the Confederations Cup in 2009 and with some scintillating performances in the lead-up to the World Cup. However, the knives were out after a lackluster showing against North Korea and a scoreless draw versus Portugal. Furthermore, in contrast to the media-friendly Brazilians of the past, this version of the squad was closed off to the media and most press conferences were only attended by Dunga. Also, curfews and strict team meetings were on the agenda.
Brazil entered their match against the Netherlands as the favorite, however, not the overwhelming favorite that some made them out to be. For the Dutch, their match-up against Brazil was their biggest test at the World Cup after enjoying a 4 out 4 start to their campaign. The Dutch plan revolved around controlling possession, avoiding the early goal and try to sneak a winner in at the end, while Brazil would keep their shape defensively, counterattack and win the game comfortably.
And the game could not have started more brightly for the Brazilians as they dominated the early exchanges abusing Holland's wing backs with the darting runs of Robinho and Kaka, and were unlucky not to find themselves ahead by more than one goal. The goal was created by a brilliant through ball from Juventus midfielder Felipe Melo who spotted Robinho making a darting run to the box, and Robinho coolly took his chance and buried the ball into the net. Brazil was flying and then came the halftime whistle.
For the first 10 minutes of the second half, the Dutch could not muster much offensive firepower as the Brazilian defensive plan was working to perfection. And then, a mistake happened amongst Julio Cesar and Felipe Melo as Wesley Sneijder's cross was delivered into the box. Both Cesar and Melo went for the ball and either due a lack of communication or just a simple goalkeeping error, Melo headed the ball into the back of the next, and all of a sudden the Dutch were back in the game. This was the turning point of the game in my opinion.
After the tying goal, the Dutch began to impose their will on the game and Nigel de Jong and Mark van Bommell were controlling the center of the park. Furthermore, Kaka, Robinho and Luis Fabiano disappeared from the match either falling victim to the over confidence of the early goal or the plain shock as a result of the Dutch equalizer. Keep in mind that Melo's own goal was the first own goal the Brazilians conceded ever in the World Cup, that is approximately 96 games, absolutely stunning.
In the 68th minute the Dutch won a corner which was taken by Arjen Robben and flicked on at the near post by Dirk Kyut finally reaching the bald head of Sneijder, who buried the ball into the top left corner. Sneijder was shocked at the goal and so was I, as Sneijder is one of the smallest players on the park and should of never had a free header in the box. Brazil had lost their confidence and it was evident as both center backs Juan and Lucio were pylons.
Then, our main man, Felipe Melo committed the ultimate bone-headed play of the game. Granted Arjen Robben was falling to the ground rather easily when he felt any type of Brazilian pressure, but to see Felipe Melo blatantly step on Robben, in any book, is a direct red card, no questions asked. Melo who an hour earlier delivered the most perfect of through balls to set up Robinho's opening goal was now taking an early shower and more or less responsible for sending the Brazilians home.
As mentioned above, Brazil don't lose to other teams, they actually beat themselves. Did the early goal for Brazil lead to complacency, not an uncommon state of mind for many Brazilian squads of the past? With so much talent at your disposal, when the game starts that simply for you and you take the early lead, it is only natural that you let up a little, and that is exactly what Brazil did.
Furthermore, there was no leadership on the park for this version of the Brazilian team. Lucio, for all of his defensive strengths, makes too many stupid and reckless plays, to be considered as a captain or a leader. Granted he has had his success with Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, but he never was elected vice-captain or captain during his tenure with those clubs. Lucio is a fantastic player but not a motivator, someone that could of challenged the Brazilian team when they fell behind to the Dutch in the 68th minute.
Where was the bench for the Brazilians? Dunga was forced to substitute Michel Bastos for Gilberto early in the second half to avoid a second yellow card, but looking at the roster and the available substitutes there was no firepower in reserves for Brazil when they went behind by a goal. Kaka was clearly not 100%, Luis Fabiano failed to show up and Robinho was the only player of class for the Brazilian team. Two defensive midfielders in the form of Gilberto Silva and Felipe Melo is not how Brazil play, and with the absence of Elano due to injury, playing Daniel Alves out of position is not an answer. Some of the fault has to lie on Dunga.
At the end of the day, the Brazilians played approximately 55 minutes of football and then just did not show up for the rest of the match. Granted, the Dutch might have fallen to the ground a tad easier than expected, but all of their goals were a result of miscommunication, goalkeeping errors and poor set-piece marking. The Dutch took the game to Brazil and honestly, deserved their victory.
