I would first like to apologize for not having covered last week’s “footballistic “ events. No excuses. To make up for it though I decided to cover Rep of Ireland – Brazil, and tomorrow you will have a full coverage of all the friendly games played this mid-week (yes, even Moldova – Azerbaijan if you want).
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Friendly games always have a particular flavour: you never know if both teams are going to play the game fully. Lucky for us, these friendly games are one of the last opportunities for the qualified teams to show their muscles before the World Cup. Brazil, the eternal contender to world domination, against Eire, who would have been qualified if it weren’t for France’s best handball player, was a perfect match-up. Time for Brazil to step it up a notch and for Ireland to prove they were worthy of a trip to South Africa.
Republic of Ireland: Given – Kelly, St Ledger, McShane, Kilbane – Andrews, Whelan, Lawrence, Duff – Doyle, Keane
Brazil: Julio Cesar – Maicon, Lucio, Juan, Bastos – Melo, Gilberto Silva – Ramirez, Kaka, Robinho – Adriano
Republic of Ireland: Given – Kelly, St Ledger, McShane, Kilbane – Andrews, Whelan, Lawrence, Duff – Doyle, Keane
Brazil: Julio Cesar – Maicon, Lucio, Juan, Bastos – Melo, Gilberto Silva – Ramirez, Kaka, Robinho – Adriano
Within the first minute, the crowd, the commentators and I, sigh of relief. This game won’t be boring. Ireland applies a highly physical pressure and Brazil plays one touch passes. First alert at the third minute when Robbie Keane escapes Juan on the left side of the box, turns onto his left foot to unleash a weak shot headed straight to Julio Cesar. The hyperactivity of the Irish frontline stretches the Auriverde’s defence, creating spaces for Keane and Doyle to exploit. Lucio beats Duff to it, Kaka makes everything look easy, Maicon puts his first cross in, Andrews demolishes Melo, Adriano tucks his stomach in and Trapattoni prays. By the fifteenth minute Ireland have obtained two corner kicks, a couple of well placed free kicks (thank you Juan) and required Julio Cesar to save Doyle’s header (where was Juan?). That must have been it for Lucio, because from that point on the central defender showed all his might: from carrying the ball forty meter to diving saves (more to come). Kaka had helped the Brazilians get back on the right track as well with a terrific that flirted with Given’s crossbar (12th), but it was a counter attack lead by Ramirez (and started by Lucio) that really turned the game in favour of Dunga’s team. After Adriano got his shot blocked by (an excellent) Kelly, the Brazilians monopolized the ball and chances. Kaka obtains a free kick, Given saves Adriano’s 25 meters attempt, Robinho makes Kilbane trip himself, Melo finally gets into the rhythm, Keane is isolated, Given punches out three corner kicks, Bastos sends another Kaka-obtained free kick flying into the stands, Maicon does the same, Duff spits on himself and Andrews puts a foot in at the very last moment.
Brazil work on diesel: slow at the beginning but very hard to stop once it picks up momentum. Kaka distributes the game equally from left to right with his usual elegance. Ireland succumb to the attacks at the 43rd. Maicon launches Robinho (offside) on the right edge of the box, the ex-Citizen delivers a low hard cross, Andrews throws his right leg at it, ball bounces over Given. 1-0. Cruel for the Irish, but that seems to be the theme lately.
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Half time and the Brazilian girls dance around in the stands. The Emirates is half empty. Hopefully the second half will be just as entertaining.
Second half starts with Ireland’s strong moment: two corner kicks and ball possession but the domination reveals itself sterile. Kaka finally gets mad at the hundredth foul (what would have Jesus done?), Duff and Maicon smile at each other, Doyle brings Juan to an edge, Duff and Whelan leave the field for Gibson and McGeady, Melo fouls and Given places his defenders. We have to wait until the 57th minute to see Robinho with his infinite step-overs to get some chills, the back pass is for Bastos who sends a bullet just wide of Given’s goal. Brazil is now running full speed, with Lucio on the halfway line, intense ball possession and fatal accelerations. At this moment Ireland seem far from being able to score an equalizer, so Dunga galvanizes us by releasing Dani Alves from the bench. Brazil now has a right flank where Maicon and Alves share tasks. The two best right backs in the world (I’ll let you choose who is number one, I have my own opinions) side by side, that’s what Dunga is preparing for his World Cup. Grafite also appears for Adriano. On his first touch, Dani Alves steals the ball from a confused St Ledger, escapes towards the goal, deletes Given, but misses the open goal shot with his left (65th). Within the next minute Robinho takes a couple of seconds to wind up his shot from twenty five meters outs. The trajectory is beautiful, the ball is still, all eyes are stuck on the ball, but Cool-Given rests assured, the shot is high.
Ireland try desperately to bring the ball to Julio Cesar but that’s without counting on Lucio. Hear: I dive towards my goal to block a cross, the ball is behind me, so I kick backwards to clear it, it works and Kaka can peacefully resume. Astounding. The rain of Brazilian opportunities intensifies. Maicon repeats what Alves did, stealing the ball from McShane just outside the D, Robinho steals it, runs towards goal and scores but he was obviously offside (is he that hungry to score or does he really not know the offside rule? Sometimes I wonder). Kaka then does his part by overtaking the right side (where Andrews forgets to touch the ball), crosses the ball perfectly for Robinho’s right foot but the shot is high. A goal is to come, everyone can feel it, especially the Irish who rely on redundant fouls to stop the flow of the game. But nothing can be done, especially when it becomes this beautiful. Kaka receives the ball on the left side about thirty meters out and accelerates. Kaka to Grafite, back to Kaka, to Robinho, to Grafite, back to Robinho who aims, shoots and scores. Two heel passes are hidden in there somewhere, I will let you find them. Wonderful. The defence is nowhere to be found (76th). The end of the game is just the continuation of Brazil’s training with a succession of semi chances. Grafite, Nilmar, Carlos Eduardo (all subs) show their teeth and worry Given. A couple of hundred flawless passes later, three whistles are heard. 0-2 final score. It is not the most convincing victory of them all, but the incredible amount of chances and good flow should be just enough for a solid basis. Ireland on the other hand reveal themselves once again unlucky. The future will hopefully not be as cruel for these eternal underdogs.
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Grades
Ireland – 2010: Because it has not been an easy2009- 2010 year for the Irish, because they deserve to be in the World Cup, because they gave everything they got at every game, because Trapattoni, because it was Brazil…
Given – 5: It’s not easy against Brazilians: they either miss the target or score.
Kelly – 5,5: Good defensive work in the first half, much more subdued during the second.
Mc Shane – 4: Semi-heroic at the beginning of the game, catastrophic during the rest.
St Ledger – 4: Had a severe case of yellow fever.
Kilbane – 5: Unfortunately for him, it was on his flank that most of the Selecao’s attacks developed, cannot blame him for losing his cool and tactics.
Andrews – 7 then 3: He was the one to give Ireland hope with his midfield domination and relentless zeal, became a ghost after the own goal.
Whelan – 5: Next to a ghost it’s hard to play well.
Lawrence, Duff – 5: Both had enough space to evolve, offered some good alternatives but could not impact the game as much as they wanted.
Keane – 6: Generous as always.
Doyle – 6: Not many opportunities, will forever regret that header.
Given – 5: It’s not easy against Brazilians: they either miss the target or score.
Kelly – 5,5: Good defensive work in the first half, much more subdued during the second.
Mc Shane – 4: Semi-heroic at the beginning of the game, catastrophic during the rest.
St Ledger – 4: Had a severe case of yellow fever.
Kilbane – 5: Unfortunately for him, it was on his flank that most of the Selecao’s attacks developed, cannot blame him for losing his cool and tactics.
Andrews – 7 then 3: He was the one to give Ireland hope with his midfield domination and relentless zeal, became a ghost after the own goal.
Whelan – 5: Next to a ghost it’s hard to play well.
Lawrence, Duff – 5: Both had enough space to evolve, offered some good alternatives but could not impact the game as much as they wanted.
Keane – 6: Generous as always.
Doyle – 6: Not many opportunities, will forever regret that header.
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Brazil – 6: Excellent technically and correct tactically, it is not the players who lack in the Selecao. Not only that but it seems Dunga has found a just balance for his team, who is also very enjoyable to watch, although not fully convincing. Ronaldinho who?
Julio Cesar – 6: Didn’t have to do much tonight.
Maicon – 6: It is when he plays for his national team that his attacking character comes out. Although not decisive, participated well in the team build up, also because Brazil don’t know how to attack from the left side.
Lucio – 7: If there only one bet to make at this World Cup, I would bet Lucio is going to eat a lot of attackers.
Juan – 5: Very borderline in the first half with multiple useless fouls, better in the second half with good interceptions.
Bastos – 5,5: Usually playing left forward winger for Lyon, Michel had a hard time adjusting to this position but it didn’t really matter he didn’t have to defend that much.
Melo – 5: It seems the only place Felipe saves himself nowadays is with the Selecao. Happy with just giving the ball to Kaka.
Gilberto Silva – 6: Good physically, didn’t hesitate to go up, especially when Lucio is behind.
Ramirez – 5: A lot of technical moves and body feints but no real impact.
Robinho – 7: He might be irritating and immature (and overrated?), he might have missed many opportunities, might receive credit for an own goal, but if there is one goal you want to score in your life it’s the one at the 76th minute.
Kaka – 7: When Kaka is alone behind the striker (and not surrounded by other multi millions signings) he is undoubtedly the best at his position. I am biased but it is hard to find an equivalent around nowadays.
Adriano – 5: Had one shot, it got blocked, time to go back to the bench and watch Luis Fabiano do the work.
.Grafite, Nilmar, Carlos Eduardo – 6: Each of these had an impact on the game, by continuing the Selecao’s good work. Again the bench is not somewhere Brazil is in lack of anything. Lusiao – 5: It’s easy to come in at the 81st.
Julio Cesar – 6: Didn’t have to do much tonight.
Maicon – 6: It is when he plays for his national team that his attacking character comes out. Although not decisive, participated well in the team build up, also because Brazil don’t know how to attack from the left side.
Lucio – 7: If there only one bet to make at this World Cup, I would bet Lucio is going to eat a lot of attackers.
Juan – 5: Very borderline in the first half with multiple useless fouls, better in the second half with good interceptions.
Bastos – 5,5: Usually playing left forward winger for Lyon, Michel had a hard time adjusting to this position but it didn’t really matter he didn’t have to defend that much.
Melo – 5: It seems the only place Felipe saves himself nowadays is with the Selecao. Happy with just giving the ball to Kaka.
Gilberto Silva – 6: Good physically, didn’t hesitate to go up, especially when Lucio is behind.
Ramirez – 5: A lot of technical moves and body feints but no real impact.
Robinho – 7: He might be irritating and immature (and overrated?), he might have missed many opportunities, might receive credit for an own goal, but if there is one goal you want to score in your life it’s the one at the 76th minute.
Kaka – 7: When Kaka is alone behind the striker (and not surrounded by other multi millions signings) he is undoubtedly the best at his position. I am biased but it is hard to find an equivalent around nowadays.
Adriano – 5: Had one shot, it got blocked, time to go back to the bench and watch Luis Fabiano do the work.
.Grafite, Nilmar, Carlos Eduardo – 6: Each of these had an impact on the game, by continuing the Selecao’s good work. Again the bench is not somewhere Brazil is in lack of anything. Lusiao – 5: It’s easy to come in at the 81st.
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