Brazil 0 Argentina 0 – It’s Knife Sharpening Time!!!

Slowly Dunga’s reign of terror looks to be ending. The samba steady free flowing essence of Brazilian football has been lost, replaced by the dour, dark and disturbing image of a team faking their true identity. The showing against Argentina proved it all, we could’ve been beaten we could’ve been attacked but we were spared by Los Hermanos. They probably laughed at what has become of us, a team putting strength before skill defensive before attack. We may have won the Copa America, but in actual fact we really lost. We allowed Dunga to stay in charge and keep giving his same defensive mediocrity, the same bull shit we endured with Parriera before, and same bull shit we need to see less of. What I mean by Parriera is he was of the same school of thought, defence and counter attack (confederation cup, look what happened when no one performed at the World Cup), and that defensive crap of caution and being scared to lose has dogged us our traditions as Brazil. Watching Argentina give the Brazil team a reality check was what was needed, they mirrored us in mentality and it was obvious they weren’t being expansive by pushing too many men up, but in truth they still dominated the majority of play. Argentina played well within themselves, and Dunga’s Brazil had no answer, no prayer, just disorganisation of a useless midfield and a few moments of Robinho.

With Brazil down and out and clueless Argentina should’ve taken the initiative to kill the once mighty beast, but the loses of the Copa and Confederation Cup lingered in their minds so they took the sensible option. But they had done enough to sound the alarms of around the stadium, ‘Adeus Dunga’ rang around to the cries of donkey when Adriano was replaced, to the eerie boos which hit the stadium after the whistle. And when Brazilians start cheering Argentines such as Lionel Messi of the pitch to get at you, you know your time is done. Drawing against Argentina is no poor result, but when it’s in Brazil and it’s the first scoreless match between the two nations in something like 20-30 years then there’s a problem. Mix that with the playing style of a European team, you won’t last long with the Brazilian fans.

The match itself was an anti climax; with each team setting up to hold the midfield not to commit too many men forward. Argentina set up to physically hold Brazil putting Gago, Mascherano, and Jontas in the midfield to phsycally match the Brazlian size in the middle of the pitch. Brazil set up with their laboured midfield of Gilberto Silva and Miniero along with the Anderson who wasn’t as suggested before, ready to make an impact playing in such a disjointed and unthought-of senseless midfield made by the dumbass coach. Baptista was in their probably because Dunga thought it was the Copa America again and Adriano back in the line-up probably to physically be a presence among the ‘little’ Argentines. From start to finish it was a cagey encounter, Brazil trying to push out using counters and the physicality of Julio Baptista to force the issue, Argentina were picking their moments and dictating the play (without very much competition). Again the attack was disjointed and again there was no width. Adriano was made to find his own scraps and tried to work for openings, but to no avail as yet again there was no playmaker to create the openings, something which Brazil has been suffering with for sometime. On the other end Riquleme was having an equally Houdini moment for Argentina and was nowhere to be found, but still Argentina had space to exploit in midfield due to the Messiah. Brazil’s defence decided to return for the game (its Argentina obviously they will be fired up) and lucio and Juan did enough to stop Argentina from directly penetrating, although all balls in the box in the second half were becoming chances, first for Cruz and then for Messi and Aguero. But as I am digging my knife into Dunga I will blame him for the Defensive positioning too. For Brazil Julio Baptista was the only shining light out of the shambles, even though he was hardly great, just heart and determination plus easily going down helped steady possession for Brazil. Robinho had his moments especially when his shot came to Julio Baptista who shot straight at Abbondanzieri (great save). Also his little run going round Abbondanzieri, could’ve been judged a penalty, this was the only real magic we saw from a Brazilian. The tactics displayed show why Dunga is inept at being a coach, what use is there for a centre forward when Dunga’s the coach. Adriano was fed nothing or giving nothing use to run with, all I remember of him is his intent to drop deep and his one piece of hold up play that brought Robinho the ball. Maybe it shows that Adriano’s inclusion for Brazil may be a bit premature at this stage and we should wait a while for another return but it also shows how Dunga’s is inept at bringing a strike force into a match, how else do you win games. Messi could’ve buried us at the end if not for Julio Cesar, and this would’ve brought us to the end of our misery, but Argentina can be faulted for their cautions approach to the match.

Player Rater;

Julio Cesar – Wasn’t given much to do in the whole match except deal with a header and a cross, plus that messi save at the end. He looked better than the previous matches, but this was the important one. =6

Lucio – Came back and told his twin to get lost, moments of good tactical awareness, but still has that classical knack of doing the Brazilian thing of switch off and presenting chances, by far our best defender, co-ordinated like a captain, still not vintage though, but blame Dunga he’s the coach. = 6

Juan – Along with Lucio he was better, was very strong in the tackle and ventured up field due to the lack of creativity, calm and collective on the ball. He and Lucio didn’t have much coming at them and terms of running except Messi, doubled up well on him, maybe if Riquleme played like himself we would’ve seen how good they were on the night. I like Juan and I feel any coach in the world work well with these two at the back, o apart from the fucker we’ve got. = 6

Maicon – Don’t remember him much at all during that match, same as before, probably Dunga decided to play with no width in the final third of the pitch so he was playing deeper to contain further. = 3

Gilberto – Defend as a left-back should, nothing more said, did his usual thing of standard play not providing anything much back or forward. = 3.5
Gilberto Silva- How many times can you give away the ball, win it lose it, what good is that to a team? Messi ran rings round him and he constantly had to act as a 5th defender to keep up with the game. Past it. =2

Mineiro – Was he there, o ye giving the ball away. = 1

Anderson – believed he could force the game and do something with the ball. Still felt he looked a little lost out there, take him to the youth team and build a position there for him to settle in. probably best of the pack, an tried to distribute, but seriously he’s a prospect we need more wasn’t good enough, shame bout the injury though it didn’t look that serious. = 4

Julio Baptista – was given the free role (in Dunga’s book means half Defensive Midfielder), played better than any player in yellow attacking, didn’t do much with the ball because the players with him played poor or plain sucked (Gilberto Silva, Miniero) gave Argentina a go but wasn’t able to break them down. Should’ve buried the chance no matter what, so he gets = 5.5

Robinho – Nothing to feed of, drop deep and disjointed from midfield with no width, had his moments but not very much in the game, and a little uninspiring. He’s a player who works best with the ball at his feet not when he goes looking. = 3.5

Adriano – tried to get into the game and show himself to that crowd, had free kick which he blazed, but I reckon its too early for a recall, give him time he is super talented and if he captures his old self bang were in business. He can’t take the game on like he used to yet maybe in a few months, but when the ball comes to him he can use it well and bring others into the game. Shitty tactics and poor quality crosses mixed in with long balls which do nothing and don’t allow a player into match. = 4.0

Subs

Diego – Which Diego came to the game because I don’t think one did, another bad game, wtf? Either this guy has bad form, can’t recreate the form shown or, plain doest work with the tactics of Dopey. I think the tactics and I’ll tell you why, the way Brazil set up makes two attacking midfielders forage in the middle of the pitch. Diego and Baptista are similar players in the way in which to pick their spaces, at times on the pitch each were running into each other, it was far too congested. They play threw the same area and causes for the midfield to be disoriented and, lack of organisation; (Dunga really doesn’t know what the fuck he’s doing). I am prepared to be wrong about Diego, he didn’t look happy playing, under a different more fluid coach I think we can judge him. This takes nothing away from his poor display in even getting into the match or doing anything constructive, but ifeel if you get him right he can be a very good player. = 2

Luis Fabiano – Had to hear the screams of Donkey uttered when Adriano went off, He did though try to assert himself quickly and his cross via defensive mistake allowed Julio Baptsita to try a volley. I like Luis Fabiano, and if Dunga can’t get one of Europe’s top scorers getting chances then Dunga can’t get nobody a chance which has been proved. Can’t really give a rating because nothing else was given to him. = -

Daniel Alves – the funniest thing ever, a right back for an attacking midfielder. Ok Diego wasn’t playing well but were did Daniel Alves play on the pitch, just in front of the on pitch Right back Maicon, what so you can have super right back attack. I am not sure but I am may be tempted to hand in my resume to be the next Brazil Coach, I reckon I have more tactical sense then Dunga. = -

Argentina came for a point and that’s what they got, they hate playing beautiful football and getting beatien by Brazil. On the contrary I respect Argentina fully and love that they believe more in the way to win then the ugly money side of winning at all costs. Teams such as them make football such a great spectacle, entonces gracias to you guys (but not for the match against Brazil).

Well Brazil’s form before the game was even more of a laughing stock as the Atletico-Mineiro youth team beat the Brazil Reserves, (that Adriano and Elano for you guys). Wow Dunga really knows what he is doing don’t he. Well a culmination of all the shitty work he has been doing has now thrown his job into uncertainty. The squad picked for the Olympics has been ordered to call up Ronaldinho, CBF money grabber Ricardo Texiera, has made this clear to Dunga against his wishes. Now this automatically means Dunga has lost the faith of the board, plus the inclusion of Ronaldinho gives us fans another thing, what Ronaldinho is he taking? We all want to see the samba flow through Ronaldinho like 2/3 years ago and my god do I wanna see him love the game again, but are we going to be subject to a money making ploy here in order to pull the crowds in to watch Brazil, to watch a washed up superstar, hey I hope not. In the long run I hope Dunga is ushered out before the Olympics, or its going to be an embarrassment, but I think there is still a twist in the tail before the Olympics start. The knifes are sharpening and Dunga can feel them, the fans in Brazil have started Dunga’s demise, now its up to the CBF to restore our pride.

Match Highlights