Robinho shows his anger!
The first game deciding a place in the top four today was Brazil against the Netherlands, at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Port Elizabeth. A much anticipated match, for everyone expected a nice display from both teams. When the match started, I had the impression that some players were a little more nervous than they should be.
Brazil had the best chances as the Dutch team couldn’t keep the ball at their feet for long. The Brazilians’ first goal was disallowed, after Daniel Alves was flagged for offsides before his cross to Robinho. However, just after that, Felipe Melo made a beatiful vertical pass to Robinho and the forward scored a nice second goal in the World Cup. All those things happened before the 1oth minute of the first half.
Before his celebration.
After suffering the goal, some Dutch players got their act together and started playing. Chances were created by the Oranje side, always seeking Arjen Robben along the right side, although never frightening Julio Cesar or the Brazilian defense.
As Holland appeared to have only one side, Brazil tried to pass the ball quickly, to open the Dutch defense. Daniel Alves, playing in the midfield again, crossed a good ball to Juan in the 25th minute, but the defender wasted it.
Another good opportunity came on 30 minutes. Kaká, Robinho and Luis Fabiano exchanged passes, ending with Kaká trying a nicely curled finish.. That was perhaps the best single moment of Brazilian football in the whole competition. Ironically, it was well saved by Maarten Stekelenburg.
The match turns on Maarten Steklenberg's save of an upper 90 bound curler from Kaka, attempting to cap off Robinho's determined run.
The Dutch players appeared unfocused during the first half – something was off – they almost seemed to be arguing amongst them. Well, that was about to change. The Netherlands found a goal in the beginning of the second half. A dumb foul by Michel Bastos resulted in a free kick. The cross by Wesley Sneijder went into the box, where Felipe Melo got in the way of Julio Cesar and, apparently, scored an own goal.
Felipe Melo in the way of Julio Cesar's save.
With the Dutch goal, the Brazilians became more nervous. Way more nervous. The Japanese referee didn’t help, delaying so many restarts, lecturing to the players. When the Brazilians thought that this couldn’t get any worse, Arjen Robben crossed a corner, flicked by Dirk Kuyt to Welsey Sneijder, unmarked, and he headed into the net.
While everybody stares, Sneijder scores!
Brazil still had some time to recover, with the go -ahead goal happening in the 67th minute. However, some Brazilian players were just not present. Luis Fabiano was hiding somewhere near the defense. Gilberto Silva’s must have lost his stamina, because he was walking around the pitch.
Don’t even get me started on Michel Bastos and Felipe Melo. The left back was taken off in the 61st minute, as he was just not able to cope with Robben’s skills. The midfielder, Melo, was expelled in the 72nd minute, after a harsh foul when he stepped on Robben unnecessarily.
Robinho reverts back to anger, lecturing Robben for allowing Melo to stomp on him
On the Ducth side, it has to be said that Mark Van Bommel and Nigel De Jong controlled the midfield well enough.
Dunga looked at his bench and found nobody to help. In a desperate move, he trades forwards, putting Nilmar in the place of Luis Fabiano, trying to get some speed on the field. Lucio turned into a striker because he wasn’t seen after the 75th minute doing his job in the defense. Brazil’s desperation got nowhere and helped the Netherlands create some good opportunities in the counter attack, of which they didn’t take full advantage . Near the ens, they could have scored many more goals.
So the heavily favored Brazilians were out. Dunga is also out, as he announced prior to the tournament. What’s left for Brazil? Picking up the pieces and trying to be a good World Cup host in 2014.
A tough day for Brazil.
When you are, in fact, the best team in the world, everyone knows it, everyone keeps reminding you of it and teams like Portugal back up the bus in front of goal out of respect for your immense talent, it's not a surprise that you're unsure of what to do when another dangerous, talented and confident team pegs you back.
You can't fault Dunga, either. How do you coach Brazil to play from behind or to respond to a fight back? I mean, when was the last time it happened to them in a World Cup? Never, actually, as they were 35-2-0 when leading after the half in their finals history. They simply never saw this coming and were on cruise control when the truck hit them.
On e thing you can criticise is their set piece defense. Whether or not Julio Cesar should have come off his line, Felipe Melo and the other 2 defenders in his way should have moved away when he called for the ball. As for the 2nd goal…. When the 2 shortest men on the pitch, Dirk Kuyt and Wesley Sneijder combine for a goal on headers in the box, its completely down to poor defending. Brazil definitely lost their composure.
As a side note, I don't know how that was called an own goal, myself. The ball was definitely goal bound before it glanced off Melo's noggin. The fact that his interference prevented someone else, namely the keeper, from saving it, has no bearing on accrediting the goal.
Posted by mpalazzotto | 2 July, 2010, 23:04FIFA's special committed has changed the official record and awarded the goal to Sneijder. He is now in the logjam of players with 4 goals in the competition.
Posted by mpalazzotto | 3 July, 2010, 17:38I didn't get to watch the match today as I was stuck in work (grrrr….), but I was very shocked to see the result. I really expected, as most others did, that the Brazilian "machine" would be simply too strong. Still, two players appeared to live up to the hype today in the form of Filipe Melo and Arjen Robben. What is clear right now to me is that Robben has to be in the bracket of elite footballers in the world. His performances for Bayern have been absolutely sensational and he can simply destroy teams single handedly.
Posted by Matt Dalton | 2 July, 2010, 23:46I agree with you about Robben. He certainly had a part in this victory, although I wouldn't call it singlehanded. His partnership on the right with Sneijder, after opposing him in the Champions League final, is on a par with the relationship between Podolski and Klose.
Posted by mpalazzotto | 3 July, 2010, 17:42I was referring more to the performances he has put in for Bayern this season with that comment. As I say, I was unfortunate enough to have to work whilst the game was on so didn't get a chance to see his impact, although I believe it was quite large, if not quite single handed!
Posted by Matt Dalton | 3 July, 2010, 17:45He did set up both goals and burrowed under the skin of Felipe Melo and Michele Bastos like a giant, balding tick.
Posted by mpalazzotto | 3 July, 2010, 18:20One of my bosses is from Madrid and he tells me that he can't understand why Real sold him. He reckons he was as good for Madrid as he has been for Bayern. On current form, he has to be up there with the best of them.
Posted by Matt Dalton | 3 July, 2010, 18:26