So Brazil have concluded the Brazil Global Tour with two 1-1 draws here in sunny Singapore... a lot of the hype had been about Brazil and the media has been pretty dynamic in its coverage of the event; with the Brazilians' stay at JW Marriott Hotel & all that...
It seems most people thought Brazil would win the games pretty convincingly... with the media focusing on the greatness of the 5-time World Cup winners, the illustrious history, the tradition; Jogo Bonito; their multitude of superstars such as Neymar, Roberto Firmino & Phillipe Coutinho... and their rank No. 3 in the world...
However, I must say the Brazil of today is not quite the same as the Brazil of legends past... of 1982 and 1986... those were the days when the mere mention of the word Socrates could make your hair stand on end... I remember the first World Cup I watched in 1986... Brazil were like The Dream Team... Zico, Careca, Junior... players treated like legends on the field... the names & the faces... the long-range screamers from right-back Josimar (I still remember his goal & the commentator shouting his name...) & Alemao... the historic quarter-final when they lost out to a Michel Platini-inspired France on penalties
However, it also must be said that Tite seems to be doing the right path... and Brazil have looked pretty good in recent times; culminated by their sterling recent triumph at the Copa America (without Neymar as well)... he seems to have found the right blend of offensive swagger & defensive resilience... with new birds like Arthur & Everton finding their place alongside stalwarts such as Daniel Alves & Thiago Silva...
However, in this Brazil Gobal Tour; you've got Senegal & Nigeria... two top African teams... and I'm not surprised at all that both games finished 1-1 and Brazil seemingly unable to gain control in both. I sensed the Africans were not best pleased as being a little 'underestimated ' by the media and were probably gunning at the hip to come out and surprise Brazil...
Senegal were runners-up at the recent Africa Cup of Nations and with players like in-form Sadio Mane; PSG's show-stopper Idrissa Gueye and Napoli's indomitable Kalidou Koulibaly; are certainly a team high on form... and Nigeria; with players such as Leicester City's talismanic defensive midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and Everton starlet Alexander Iwobi... were certainly ready to give Brazil a tough fight as well...
Well Brazil did want stiff opposition as friendlies as part of this Brazil Global Tour... and looks like they certainly got it
No comments:
Post a Comment