Scotland 0 – 2 Brazil – Brazil overpower resistant Scots
Brazil’s next big thing Neymar justifies the hype with a brace to sink Scotland in one of world football’s great culture clashes at a sunny Emirates stadium.
In the absence of AC Milan front pair Robinho and Alexandre Pato, Brazil coach Mano Menezes handed Leandro Damaio, 21, his debut alongside sought after 19-year-old Santos forward Neymar. Shakhtar Donetsk attacking midfielder Jadson and former Man City man Elano played either side of Premier League duo Lucas Leiva and Ramires in a narrow but creative midfield four.
Craig Levein sent out his side with the intention to not be embarrassed by the five time World Cup winners and succeeded in terms of the score line, but the travelling 30,000 fans will be disappointed that their side could not muster a shot on goal.
Following a Brazilian-esque free kick against Blackburn last week, Charlie Adam anchored a five-man midfield with the captain, Bursaspor striker Kenny Miller, leading the line. Miller looked to run channels but struggled to get on the ball and looked completely isolated for the 90 minutes as his midfield failed to get up in support and play the ball in behind for him. Adam looked to get his team moving with some long diagonal passes but was often off target and did not find himself on the ball nearly as much as he would have wanted.
When out of possession the Scots set up in two deep banks of four with Adam shuffling in between with the wide men Stephen Whittaker and the fiercely competitive Scott Brown working hard to track the marauding full backs. This forced the Brazilians to move the ball from side to side in search of an opening, and although their movement of the ball was typically slick the Scots looked to stay disciplined, despite being guilty of ball watching on occasions. Brazilian whizz kid Neymar saw plenty of the ball early on and looked to use his repertoire of flicks and tricks to evade the attention of the Scottish players, soon finding enough space in the penalty area to open up his body and curl the ball into the net.
Scotland enjoyed their best spell of the game at the hour mark, winning a couple of corners and looking to pressurise Brazil high up the pitch. Levein, looking to get something from the game replaced the industrious Whittaker with Derby’s Kris Commons, as well as handing recently repatriated Scot, Craig Mackail-Smith, a memorable debut. However, the Scottish substitutes failed to get on the ball as Brazil continued to dominate possession, holding the ball for a massive 68.7% of the tie.
Neymar, who faded somewhat in the second half, soon sealed the tie, receiving the ball in the area and throwing a quick step over, drawing a foul from Charlie Adam, and Brazil’s latest prodigy tucked home his own penalty with a swagger and sealed the tie as well as the match ball for himself.
One feels that the Scots will not feel too hard done by but the gulf in class was obvious for all to see.
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