Brazil vs Russia: Result, Tactical Analysis, Goal Analysis
INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY
RUSSIA 1 - 1 BRAZIL
STAMFORD BRIDGE
Brazil faced Russia and hoped to get their first win under Scolari, but after a lackluster display at the Bridge a lot questions have been asked of the new Brazilian coach and the young crop that Brazil is so heavily relying upon. Russia did not start with their veterans but their up-comers played with heart and resilience and should have won for their effort. They were cruelly denied of a famous win by a last gasp Fred goal.
It ended Brazil 1-1 Russia with Fred scoring the equalizer in 90th minute to cancel out Fizaulin strike from the 73rd minute.
Brazil Line up
Starting: Cesar, Luiz, Silva, Marcelo, Alves, Fernando, Hernanes, Kaka (78'), Neymar, Fred, Oscar(67')Sub on: Costa (78'), Hulk (67')
Russia Line up
Starting: Gabulov, Anyukov, V. Berezutskiy, Eschenko, Ignashevick, Glushakov, Shirokov, Brystov (46'), Faizulin, Kerzhakov, Kokorin (46')Subs on: Zhirkov (46',86'), Kombarov (46'), Grigorjev (86')
Tactical Analysis:
Brazil
Formation: 4-2-3-1Possession :59%
Total Shots: 13
Passing Style: Short
Pressing Style: Own Half
Brazil made a few changes with Kaka, Thiago Silva and Marcelo coming in to the starting line up with Dante, Felipe Luis and Hulk dropping down the bench. The strategy was pretty much the same but with the experience of Kaka, it was thought that Brazil would control the midfield better than their previous game where they were overdone by Pirlo and company.
Brazil was attacking from all over the field with the percentages of attack equally spread. But could not string in a decent array of passes to dictate or to dominate possession. A 59% possession stat improved once Russia made their substitutions as none of their substitutes made any sort of a real impact.
Russia
Formation: 4-3-3Possession: 41%
Total Shots: 13
Passing Style: Short
Pressing Style: Own Half
Russia kept Denisov, Zhirkov, Akinfeev, and Dzagoev on the bench for this one fielding a side with less experience but with a point to prove. Their midfield outplayed Brazil's and it was inevitable that a midfielder from Russia would score. Their passing was good but they too could not get into a passing rhythm. Their substitutions did not work as they would have liked but Fabio Capello surely would have been pleased by the efforts of his team. Their main attacking threat was from the left flank but they varied it nicely and kept Brazil at an arm's length. Overall, a very encouraging game for the Russians.
Goal Analysis
Faizulin Goal:
We will look at it from the view of both parties and conjure up a verdict. Here is how it happened:
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| Mayhem, with three players unmarked! |
Brazil view:
It was scrappy and Brazil were just delaying the inevitable. I was critical of Alves in the previous game, and here he was again lethargic and poor in defense. Too lazy to close down, then too lazy in the supposed closing down that he did, and it was just a matter of time that Brazil would concede there. Faizulin deserved his goal as he was a constant threat for the Russians.
Who to blame?
Dani Alves: He was further than his midfielder on that side and was dis interested in coming back to help also.
Back line organization:
Once Zhirkov played the ball in, it was all scrappy from Brazil, desperate and disorganized, well, they did have Thiago Silva at the back, wonder why is there still no defensive organization from the Samba side.
Russia view:
How did they not score on that in the first place? It did went in after three blocked attempts but they had their hearts in their mouth for the majority of it. With the ball ping ponging around the penalty area, it required a calm head of Faizulin to slot it under Cesar's legs to grab a deserving goal for the Russians. A big hand in it was played by Yuri Zhirkov whose killer ball took an advanced Alves out of the equation.
Who to thank?
Zhirkov: clever cut back put 3 Russian players open in the box, and any one of them could have scored. Excellent play on his return to the Bridge, unfortunately pulled up his hamstring in the dying minutes.
Faizulin: In a scramble, you require a cool head, and this head was on the shoulders of the vibrant Faizulin who calmly tucked the ball away to give Russia the lead.
Fred's Goal
Now, we will take a look at the tap-in from Fred. Kudos to Hulk who came on and provided a much needed spark for the golden boys. A wake up call worked for him, may be Scolari will experiment the same method on some of the other over confident heads in his team.
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| Marcelo gets ahead and Hulk finds him! Samba-Style |
Brazil's view:
Marcelo was looking good throughout the game but did not have support on his flan up until the pumped up Hulk joined the action. His cleverness and Marcelo's pace created the best bit of football on the night and Fred intelligently holding his run to stay on-side calmly slotted the ball in for the easiest of goals. Hulk was anonymous against Italy but a role on the bench this time around fired his tummy enough to carve out a decent performance. Marcelo had been excellent for Brazil the whole game.
Who to thank?
Marcelo:
The left back did well to get in front of his man and then lay the ball into the path of Fred to equalize. A good game for Marcelo.
Russia's view:
You can not do anything when there is a Samba attack going against you in full flow, and same was the case here. Russia were left quizzing and guessing but their Right back has to take responsibility for allowing Marcelo to get in front of him but then again, there are not a lot of right backs in the world who can stop Marcelo from getting ahead of them. Just that bit of more quality on that move denied Russia a win over the Brazilians after 33 years. Maybe next time, Russia!Who to Blame?
Kombarov: Left for dead by Marcelo as he could not cope with the pace of the full back, did not cover and defend his space and let him in to pass to Fred.
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