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Confederations Cup Review

July 3rd, 2009 | By: Duvel | 13 Comments »

Apologies for taking so long to post this. I needed a break after the tournament. So what did we learn the past couple of weeks about football and the seleção? With a Copa America and Confederations Cup title, not to mention a first place position on the qualifying table, has Dunga finally silenced his critics?

Lesson number one…Spain is fallible. Going into this tournament most assumed the Spanish were on a date with destiny to capture their first World Cup. Although that goal is still completely within reach, they are no long the clear cut favorite for next summer.

The second thing we should take from this tournament is that Lucio is really world class. As was mentioned on the comment boards he is just as deserving to be apart of that discussion with John Terry and Giorgio Chiellini. With one half of the central defense appearing to be nailed down for the foreseeable future Dunga’s can focus to turn towards a suitable partner in the defense. The list of candidates will be long going into the next campaign. Alex, Thiago Silva, Luisao, Juan, etc. are all in the mix. Alex we have to figure would be the best person to lineup along side Lucio. His form last season at Chelsea was outstanding. Their size would make it difficult for set piece teams like England to have much success.

A third lesson is that this year under Dunga has been much better this year than last. He has shown a greater willingness to change the team than was the case last year. The football has been more attractive, while maintaining the discipline that he has looked to install. Although I think it’s still a work in progress, for the time being Brazil has an identity once again.

Three questions this tournament has raised: 1) Will Robinho ever been consistent? 2) What will be the answer on the right side of the midfield? 3) Can we survive will what will be a slower Gilberto Silva come 2010?

I think Robinho needs to show more consistency for his country and his club. If he shows it for Manchester City next season, one would think that this would translate into his national team appearances. Man City has upgraded their roster with Roque Santa Cruz and Gareth Barry joining Robinho, so next year will be a big opportunity for him to shine.

Ramires faded as this tournament went on. However I still believe he has a chance to develop into a star. Moving to Benfica this year will help in that development. He is still an unfinished product and I’m glad we had the opportunity to watch him play at this stage. Elano is not a bad option, but what will his status be at Man City, will his playing time be as sporadic as last year? If so, will that lead to a decline in his national team play? Diego? He never impressed when he had the chance here, but if he performs well for Juve next year one would assume that eventually it would translate into better national team showings.

Finally, I think many of you might know how I will answer the last question. Gilberto Silva for years has been a steady leader and professional on the pitch for the team. However there is no doubt that his best years are behind him. His lack of speed was a problem at times in the tournament. By next summer he will only be a year older, and a little slower. We will need to integrate someone into this position who COULD at least step in if necessary.

The team’s next matches are an August 12 friendly at Estonia and September 5th and 8th at Argentina and home against Chile. With the transfer market in full swing there will be plenty of things to discuss between now and then. If you were a new reader to the blog for this tournament make sure to check back in as the blog is updated a few times a week.

Tags: Alex, Brazil, Dunga, Gilberto Silva, Group F, Lucio, Road to Africa 2010, Robinho

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Comments

By Erekle | July 3rd, 2009 at 4:06 pm

I think Anderson is the best possible replacement for Gilberto Silva in sight. Dunga called him up for the June qualifiers but had to replace him with Kleberson due to an injury. Hopefully, Dunga will use the year remaining until the world cup to integrate Anderson into the team.

By Dibo | July 4th, 2009 at 3:03 am

Dunga as shown some improvement, but i still think we are far away from hexa, we need to add more creativity to the midfield. We also need to try playing both micon and alves together one on the left and another on the right. Its a big waste if either one of then need to sit on the bench cause both of the definatelly are the best fullbacks in the world at the moment.Hope dinho will find is form with AC milan this season. As Dunga said its all depends on him, and if he could produce the form he showed in 04/05 season with Barca than with KAKA also in the midfield, we could challenge for the hexa. Im also keeping my fingers crossed for my all time favorite R9 in SA2010 for a grand finale!!

Posted from Malaysia

By Antihate | July 5th, 2009 at 9:16 pm

Spot on post. I definitely also agree with Dibo as well. There still needs to be more creativity in the midfield. Ramires was great for a bit, but started to look miserable on the pitch. Elano is a good player but I need to see more to make a judgement. I really really hope Ronaldinho come into form. And maybe just maybe the REAL Ronaldo does well enought to get back into the squad. Fabiano looked amazing. The first goal he scored against USA was magnifique! Oh well, Brazil keeps winning. And I think Dunga is learning on the job. Because I think he’s getting better as a coach I have to admit after being one of his strongest critics.

By Mark | July 8th, 2009 at 9:52 pm

I just want to tell the Brazilians to watch out for teams that dont use the rules of soccer to play the game. Teams like the U.S.A who are only opportunists and will make you pay for a mistake. Since they have no respect fot the game, they are trained like robots to capitalize on mistakes. They did it twice to spain and you could see that Spain was in control for most of the game. They dominated the americans but it was 2 bad changes and the U.S won. remember when Brazil beat the U.S 3-0 the first game. The second game it should have been 5-0 but the U.S got 2 very lucky goals.
I urge Brazil to watch out for this trend when they are on one side and it quickly turns to the other end.

Posted from United States

By Duvel | July 9th, 2009 at 10:30 pm

Ronaldinho will certainly have every chance in the world to put himself back on the map this season. We will definitely know if he is done after this year.

Posted from United States

By Johnathan | July 10th, 2009 at 10:14 pm

Well where do i begin.

I just want to put forward my thoughts about the brazillian line up. I like and i love the current brazllian line up but i am also disappointed as well. I mean the team that won the confederations cup was not the brazil team that i have grown to like. I mean their was no structure, no stability and no disclipline in what they did.

I feel that they need to consider abpout bringing back ronaldinho in the mid’s as he can give that experience and discipline that they lack. I also feel that they need to bring back adriano, or even ronaldo(who partnered both robinho at real madrid and adriano at the 2006 world cup) for that attacking discipline and falir. i fealt that the team they had at the 06 was the best team i have seen in ages, and if they kept that team alot of the players from that team could have played alot of footlball together and to get to know how each other play. Just love to see brazil play that attacking, structured, disciplined football.

Dunga is a good coach and i wish him all the best for the rest of the qualifying. And what ever happened to players like bebeto, zinho, aldair, viola, edmundo,romario, rivaldo, marcio santos, and jardal. havent heard much about any of these guys..

if some one does email me at jflexx45@hotmail.com
bring back scolari as coach or give it garrincha.

Posted from Australia

By estoverao | July 15th, 2009 at 10:19 pm

Ronaldinho had his chance, along with Kaka, Ronaldo(the real Ronaldo) and Adriano in WC 2006 and they didn’t deliver.

Robinho has yet to let BRAZIL down in a major tournament, every time he starts for BRAZIL, BRAZIL wins. Check the stats. Even when he is not scoring, he creates opportunities and stimulates the flowing ‘futbol’ that BRAZIL is known for. Either you have GINGA or you don’t, it’s an internal rhythm that can’t be coached, it’s why ROBINHO is invaluable to DUNGA because his coaching style is more conservative than most BRAZILIAN’s like. ROBINHO’s attacking ‘fantasy’ flair, along with KAKA’s fastbreak vertical run’s help distract from DUNGA’s boring defensive coaching style.

Posted from United States

By annonymous | July 19th, 2009 at 4:09 pm

you really like robinho dont you? in my oppinon he slows the attack. pato is a better option and i would like to jee Jo get a call and see what he can do. Hes only 20 him and Pato could make a devastating combo in a couple years. Hes shown promise in Moskow and because of a weird situation at Man City didnt really play. Hopefully we see him on the pitch soon

Posted from United States

By Duvel | July 23rd, 2009 at 1:01 pm

@Annonymous I don’t really like Robinho at all, I agree with your comment about him slowing things down. Jo needs to have a big season to get a call back up. He didn’t do much when Dunga gave him a chance last year. He should get a good look at Everton this year. I already put him on my fantasy Premier League team.

Posted from United States

By CeCe | July 24th, 2009 at 11:48 am

Real talk, a 4-2-4 lineup with Robinho-Luis Fabiano-Kaka-Pato up front would make all my dreams come true.

By Duvel | July 24th, 2009 at 6:16 pm

Thanks for the comment CeCe. That 4-2-4 would get crushed on the counter in my opinion. It would be fun to watch at least.

Posted from United States

By observer | July 24th, 2009 at 9:18 pm

My take is this; brazil in the confeds cup seemed a bit disjointed most of the time. however, even though we do criticize the mid-field about lacking creativity, i find that they played a wonderful role in reinforcing the attack and the midfield by injecting numbers into either fronts…

because of the lack of understanding between Kaka and Robinho, the attack failed to jell into a real force, as such, Brazil required a accurate penetrative through balls from mid-field (which rarely happened) or crosses coming in from the wing-backs. however, whenever the ball entered the final 3rd, the midfield would push forward instantly increasing numbers in attack, one or two players would then push up from defense to supplement the mid-field, and Lucio and another defender would hold the line about 20 metres apart from each other. this is how, however, the americans scored the second goal.

when all has been said, all formations can be criticized but soccer demands some level of risk acceptance. Brazil like to push up and depend on their intricate passing to not lose the ball since this would leave them wide open in defense… this attitude as obvious weakness just as another attitude would, for instance a 5-3-2 formation which totally cripples attack.

while Brazil didnt exhibit the highest level they are known for, they got a result from the tournament quite convincingly. even the most lethal brazilian side ever which was the 1970 team had critics who suggested that their style of play was too fluid and too open in defense. but the counter argument might be that it achieved the result they desired in winning the world cup… i think the same might be true for this side. it obviously doesnt jell, but it definately meets the results it wants.

cheers

By Johnathan | August 7th, 2009 at 10:19 pm

i like robinho as he really quick, just needs some discipline in his attack and then watch out.

i think brazil need to try a 4-4-2 formation,it allows some of the players to take that risk and push up in attack and allows some of the players to drop back and help out in defence.

please bring back ronaldiho and ronaldo. may be his last chance to lift the cup again, and will also allow the young brazillians to learn off him and other senior players.

yes barzil had the best team in 94, 70, 02 and 06.. seems like a distant memory when the likes of romario and bebeto where the kings of attack.

cheers
brazil 2010 champions.

Posted from Australia

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