Brazil started the World Cup brightly but can they maintain that form?
Mikey Stafford reports for TheScore.ie from Fortaleza
THROUGH his one good eye Luiz Felipe Scolari can recognise the challenge posed by Mexico this afternoon. He’s seen enough of “El Tri” down through the years to spot a tricky opponent, even if his right eye is half-closed with what appears to be a stye.
Poor eye make-up removal and stress rank highly among the causes of the eye infections. Scolari is more likely to call Robinho up to perform a holding midfield role in the World Cup final than apply mascara, so it may be the pressure on the former Chelsea boss to deliver a sixth World Cup for the Selecao that has caused the irritation.
If he is feeling stressed he did a good job of disguising it at yesterday’s packed press conference in Estadio Castelao, managing to make jokes about his eye problem as he praised tonight’s Group A opponents.
“They have great players, I can pick them with one eye and I already have one nearly closed,” said Scolari.
“We are showing that every time we play against Mexico we have problems, I don’t have the statistics, but it is very similar.”
In the last 10 years Mexico have enjoyed an above average record against Brazil, losing four and winning four — including the London 2012 gold medal match. Brazil won their last encounter, at tonight’s venue, in last summer’s Confederations Cup but Scolari said yesterday that the 2-0 scoreline flattered his side, with Jo’s insurance goal coming in the 93rd minute.
“It was a balanced match and both teams play good football,” said Scolari, who knows a win in Fortaleza will all but guarantee his team safe passage to the last 16.
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“Victory places us in a favourable situation for the second round. People support us and the team are day after day in a better position, but don’t expect Brazil to go in and be the owner of the party without the other team being there.”
David Luiz in action for Brazil against Mexico in last year's Confederations Cup. Natacha Pisarenko
Natacha Pisarenko
There will be a party atmosphere this evening among the crowd expected to be well in excess of 60,000. As reported yesterday, Mexico’s support in Brazil this month is likely to be second only to the hosts, while Scolari and his players are very fond of playing in the capital city of Ceara.
It was here against Mexico last summer that the Acapella rendition of the second verse of the national anthem caught on, in defiance to FIFA’s decision to shorten the original.
Thiago Silva recalled the pre-game ceremonies and encouraged the fans to go one step further tonight.
“To hear them singing the anthem like they do makes us all very motivated,” said the Paris St Germain defender. “I have to ask everyone here, if you could sing the anthem with us, like we players do on the pitch — hug the person beside you and hug each other in the stands.”
The 3-1 win over Croatia was far from convincing but Brazil did show character to come back from Marcelo’s own goal, even if it was with the assistance of the referee.
Mexico will be hoping Turkey’s Cuneyt Cakir does a better job of officiating their game than Colombian Wilmar Roldan Perez and his assistants did in their 1-0 win over Cameroon, when Mexico had two goals controversially disallowed.
Mexico head coach Miguel Herrera argues with assistant referee Humberto Clavijo. Eduardo Verdugo
Eduardo Verdugo
Scolari was not in the mood to discuss refereeing controversies yesterday.
“I’ve no problem with refereeing. He blows the whistle and we play, and the other teams also. We had another issue that was arguable. Who has to talk about the referees? Who has to give their opinions and adjudicate, only the referees. We have to play,’ said Scolari, who did not think he could draw too much from Brazil’s recent encounters with the Central Americans.
“It helps all the studies that we do, but don’t forget that Mexico in the last 12 months has changed 3 times, or maybe twice in last 12 months, their coach.
“The team has also changed. The team in the Confederation Cup played 4-4-2 and now they play in a different way,” said Scolari, who knows little of Miguel Herrera, the Club America coach charged with taking Mexico through a play-off with New Zealand after the sacking of Victor Manuel Vucetich, who himself only replaced caretaker Luis Fernando Tena months earlier.
Last night Herrera admitted the players owed a debt to the fans and that was why they came down to greet the supporters who had serenaded them at their hotel the night before.
“The fans put us in a good mood — 2013 was difficult year for the Mexican team and we owed a debt to the fans and this year we are settling that debt.
“They saw how the team worked and played well against Cameroon, that is why they are with us. The gesture of coming close to the fans was to show we are not untouchables, on the contrary we want to be with the people, we are are glad to see this is happening, that the people are close to us.”
Hulk (right) in action for Brazil against Croatia in the opening game of the tournament. Felipe Dana
Felipe Dana
If Hulk failed to recover from a muscle injury in his left leg, his place will most likely go to Chelsea midfielder Ramires. Herrera last night named the same starting 11 that recorded as convincing a 1-0 result as possible over Cameroon last Friday.
With five at the back and Porto’s Hector Herrera looking to release Giovani Dos Santos and Oribe Peralta, “El Tri” can make life difficult for their hosts, but Brazil should find their stride and relieve their coach’s stress.
Probable teams — Brazil (4-2-3-1): Cesar; Dani Alves, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Marcelo; Gustavo, Paulinho; Hulk/Ramires, Oscar, Neymar; Fred.Mexico (5-3-2): Guillermo Ochoa; Paul Aguilar, Francisco Rodriguez, Rafael Marquez, Hector Moreno, Miguel Layun; Hector Herrera, Jose Juan Vasquez, Andres Guardado; Giovani Dos Santos, Oribe Peralta.Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey)Kick-off: 4pm (8pm GMT), Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza
Big Phil has an eye infection but he can still see the Mexican threat coming towards Brazil
Mikey Stafford reports for TheScore.ie from Fortaleza
THROUGH his one good eye Luiz Felipe Scolari can recognise the challenge posed by Mexico this afternoon. He’s seen enough of “El Tri” down through the years to spot a tricky opponent, even if his right eye is half-closed with what appears to be a stye.
Poor eye make-up removal and stress rank highly among the causes of the eye infections. Scolari is more likely to call Robinho up to perform a holding midfield role in the World Cup final than apply mascara, so it may be the pressure on the former Chelsea boss to deliver a sixth World Cup for the Selecao that has caused the irritation.
If he is feeling stressed he did a good job of disguising it at yesterday’s packed press conference in Estadio Castelao, managing to make jokes about his eye problem as he praised tonight’s Group A opponents.
“They have great players, I can pick them with one eye and I already have one nearly closed,” said Scolari.
“We are showing that every time we play against Mexico we have problems, I don’t have the statistics, but it is very similar.”
In the last 10 years Mexico have enjoyed an above average record against Brazil, losing four and winning four — including the London 2012 gold medal match. Brazil won their last encounter, at tonight’s venue, in last summer’s Confederations Cup but Scolari said yesterday that the 2-0 scoreline flattered his side, with Jo’s insurance goal coming in the 93rd minute.
“It was a balanced match and both teams play good football,” said Scolari, who knows a win in Fortaleza will all but guarantee his team safe passage to the last 16.
“Victory places us in a favourable situation for the second round. People support us and the team are day after day in a better position, but don’t expect Brazil to go in and be the owner of the party without the other team being there.”
There will be a party atmosphere this evening among the crowd expected to be well in excess of 60,000. As reported yesterday, Mexico’s support in Brazil this month is likely to be second only to the hosts, while Scolari and his players are very fond of playing in the capital city of Ceara.
It was here against Mexico last summer that the Acapella rendition of the second verse of the national anthem caught on, in defiance to FIFA’s decision to shorten the original.
Thiago Silva recalled the pre-game ceremonies and encouraged the fans to go one step further tonight.
“To hear them singing the anthem like they do makes us all very motivated,” said the Paris St Germain defender. “I have to ask everyone here, if you could sing the anthem with us, like we players do on the pitch — hug the person beside you and hug each other in the stands.”
The 3-1 win over Croatia was far from convincing but Brazil did show character to come back from Marcelo’s own goal, even if it was with the assistance of the referee.
Mexico will be hoping Turkey’s Cuneyt Cakir does a better job of officiating their game than Colombian Wilmar Roldan Perez and his assistants did in their 1-0 win over Cameroon, when Mexico had two goals controversially disallowed.
Scolari was not in the mood to discuss refereeing controversies yesterday.
“I’ve no problem with refereeing. He blows the whistle and we play, and the other teams also. We had another issue that was arguable. Who has to talk about the referees? Who has to give their opinions and adjudicate, only the referees. We have to play,’ said Scolari, who did not think he could draw too much from Brazil’s recent encounters with the Central Americans.
“It helps all the studies that we do, but don’t forget that Mexico in the last 12 months has changed 3 times, or maybe twice in last 12 months, their coach.
“The team has also changed. The team in the Confederation Cup played 4-4-2 and now they play in a different way,” said Scolari, who knows little of Miguel Herrera, the Club America coach charged with taking Mexico through a play-off with New Zealand after the sacking of Victor Manuel Vucetich, who himself only replaced caretaker Luis Fernando Tena months earlier.
Last night Herrera admitted the players owed a debt to the fans and that was why they came down to greet the supporters who had serenaded them at their hotel the night before.
“The fans put us in a good mood — 2013 was difficult year for the Mexican team and we owed a debt to the fans and this year we are settling that debt.
“They saw how the team worked and played well against Cameroon, that is why they are with us. The gesture of coming close to the fans was to show we are not untouchables, on the contrary we want to be with the people, we are are glad to see this is happening, that the people are close to us.”
If Hulk failed to recover from a muscle injury in his left leg, his place will most likely go to Chelsea midfielder Ramires. Herrera last night named the same starting 11 that recorded as convincing a 1-0 result as possible over Cameroon last Friday.
With five at the back and Porto’s Hector Herrera looking to release Giovani Dos Santos and Oribe Peralta, “El Tri” can make life difficult for their hosts, but Brazil should find their stride and relieve their coach’s stress.
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