Brazil's skill too much for Chile
Brazil put plenty of questions about its team to rest on Monday with a 3-0 domination of Chile in the Group of 16 to advance to the quarter finals of the 2010 FIFA South Africa World Cup.
The Brazilians have faced widespread criticism of their team from within their own country, as some stars of bygone days accuse the 2010 incarnation of the team as being too conservative, too mechanical compared to the "samba" style of old, which prioritized a wide-open, flowing style of soccer. Critics gained ammunition after a very shaky 2-1 tournament opening win over weakling North Korea, and a painfully dull 0-0 draw against Portugal.
But whatever their style, it was deadly effective in Monday's 3-0 blasting. The Brazilians controlled the game from start to finish, and never let the Chileans have a chance of making the quarter finals.
Chilean attack left them open
The Chilean team throughout this World Cup has operated under the old axiom that the best defence is a good offence. The Chileans under coach Marcelo Bielsa were known for prizing the attack above all else, and using a constant pressure to put the other team on the defensive. It worked well in the opening round, as Chile surrendered just two goals in three games.
But it failed to put the enormously talented Brazilian squad on their heels. Chile attacked hard in the first thirty minutes, but Brazil was able to parry these attacks without too much difficulty and search for the counter attack. Juan Silveira dos Santos opened the scoring for the Brazilians off of a header in the 34th minute, and just three minutes later Brazil scored again on a picture perfect counter attack, which began with Robinho moving up the left side and ended with Luis Fabiano putting the ball in the back of the Chilean net.
Bielsa expressed what many saw during the match: that Brazil was simply too much for the Chileans.
"We made it to the last 16. The elimination of the team is justified. Perhaps we could have lost by less, but the superiority of Brazil was too much for us," said Bielsa. "We were unable to slow them down."
Brazilian skill on display
Brazil's team managed to demonstrate that even if they are no longer using the free flowing style of play that was the trademark of the team, there is still plenty of room for individual skill and beautiful play on the pitch. The second goal, completed by Fabiano, relied on a terrific one-touch pass from star Kaka. It was likewise the case with Ramires, who showed nice finishing skill in putting the game completely out of reach for Chile with his goal at the one-hour mark.
"We have already said we're trying to play the open football that everyone wants to see from us," said Brazil coach Carlos Verri, who inevitably known as Dunga. "The players did well, and we got forward a lot.
Dunga also defended the play of his squad, saying that Brazilians may simply be too fondly remembering teams of old because of nostalgia and carefully edited highlight clips, as opposed to the more critical eye being cast on his 2010 team.
"My grandfather always told my father football was better in his day, and my father told me the same," Dunga said. "I tell my son it was better in my day, and my son will in turn tell his boy that football during his time was the most beautiful."
To be certain, this Brazilian team is working on out-hustling and outplaying its opponents, as well as using carefully constructed attacks and counter attacks to score goals. And it's working. Just ask Chile.
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