Tactical Analysis: Brazil vs Italy plus Balotelli Goal Gif

As the two power houses met on Thursday in Geneva, the world witnessed a pulsating encounter. It ended 2-2 as both teams played decent football much to the satisfaction of both the coaches. A break down of the goals scored by both teams after the jump.

Brazil Line up:

Starting: Julio Cesar, David Luiz, Felipe Luis, Dani Alves, Dante,Oscar, Hernanes, Fernando, Neymar, Hulk, Fred.
Subs: Kaka (62'), Diego Costa (69'), Marcelo (77'), Jean (85'), Gustavo (91')

Italy Line up:

Starting: Buffon, Barzagli, Bonucci, Sciglio, Pirlo, Maggio, De Rossi, Montilivio, Giacherrini, Osvaldo, Balotelli
Subs: Sharaawy, Cerci (46'), Poli (68'), Antonelli (74'), Diamanti (81'), Gilardino (83')

It started off with Italy on the offensive and only Julio Cesar saving Brazil from going 2-0 down early on. Outstanding save to deny Giacherrini after David Luiz was completely fooled by the Italian and then a top reflex save to deny Balotelli indicated that it is going to be a difficult night for him. Osvaldo and Maggio tested him as well but the veteran was up to everything Italy threw at him.

Hernanes and Oscar were not enjoying much relief against Pirlo and Montilivio but a rare ball in-behind the midfielders found Hulk open with a lot of space. Hulk's attempted low-cross was blocked well but it fell kindly to Luis who put the ball in, the ball took a deflection off Bonucci and fell too kindly for an unmarked Fred who nodded it home calmly. 

Question to the defenders? Where is the covering? Where is the marking? Who is playing on the right side of defense?

Firstly no one picks out Hulk, here is a look at the actual space he had, acres and acres of it. It was just a shame he could not get a cross in here, but that is poor defending, albeit Italy were caught on the counter but still you got to close down better. This is International football we are talking about.

Hulk moves into the space, there is no pressing on the passer here too, and when Hulk gets the ball, Italy are still too slow to close him down, he gets a cross away, blocked, but still no one has come to that right side to actually play in his position. That gives Luis ample time to pick a cross, that too is nodded over but then again there is no one covering Fred now on the left side. Italy, why you sleeping defensively? Defense has been Italy's top quality, right up there, but if they do not rectify these mistakes, their chances at the World Cup look slim.

Cover your men!

There are six defenders in the box,but who is defending, take a look at the positioning. Horrible is the least I would say, there is no pressure on the crosser, its almost a 2v2 in the box where the ball is played and one player is completely unmarked (Montilivio, what are you defending?). You label it what you want to, I label it Lousy.

Here is how he scores then:

Thank you for the gift!

As easy as it gets at this level, unmarked, he side foots it into the net, Buffon is'nt Super man so he is not going to keep it out, even Superman would not have. 1-0 Brazil.

When you get hit by a counter once, you try to shore it up so it does not happen again. Instead this time, there were just two players behind a barrage of Brazilian players.

Defense lets Italy down again!

2nd goal came when Neymar left Pirlo for dead. He raced past him like the veteran was'nt even there. No disrespect to Pirlo, he can not outrun Neymar, perhaps not even during his younger days. You do not expect Pirlo to win a race against Neymar, but atleast the debutant Sciglio should have got into position to track down and deal with Oscar's run, but he fails miserably as well. Lazy tracking back from Sciglio leaves Oscar free. Neymar shows his class and squares it to Oscar who shows his class and slots it into the corner. It was a truly cool finish from the young star.


Now, in came the substitutions and Italy looked more balanced. Pirlo and Osvaldo left the field, and in came Cerci and Sharaawy, one to get back with pace, and one to counter themselves. The Italian goal, though, came from a bit of a scramble. It is a simple corner, which is missed at the near post by Alves, then the ball bounces in the area as well, and reaches De Rossi who beautifully deflects it into the far post. A very cute finish from the defensive midfielder.
Questions for the defense? How can a corner ball go straight through to the middle, that too after bouncing once, and where are the guys at the posts?
I am a huge fan of putting guys on the posts for corners, because usually they work. There was no one on the posts, Alves tried something ridiculous, Dante missed his clearance kick and it was cleverly done by De Rossi. Italy sniffed a chance here.

Put people on the posts!

Furthermore, there are six Brazilian defenders and five Italian attackers out there, why is the number almost even? You are 2-0 up, surely you can afford to pack the box, save yourself from catastrophe, but sadly defending is no longer a top priority for coaches now a days. No player on the post, no packing up the area, and conceding a goal. Well done Scolari!

The second goal was invited by Brazil as well, as Oscar played a lose pass back which could not find Dante, Balotelli picked up the ball and David Luiz, he is not a defender, not a Center Back, no way, backs off, backs off and keeps backing off, there is no one to pass to for Balotelli, you can close him up, there are plenty of your team mates around you if he tries to dribble past you, why cant you close him down Luiz. Balotelli is invited to shoot, he shoots, and scores. A beauty of a strike from the Maverick but seriously Luiz, when will you learn to defend?
A Gif to enjoy the balotelli strike:

Oh yeah!

That is a cool finish.
Two goals from a bit of a scramble, and two cool cool finishes capped off this wonderfully entertaining game. Hope to see the world's top sides competing again soon!