MATT LAWTON ON BRAZIL’S BIG THREE
NEYMAR is already a superstar and Jesus, as one headline screamed rather amusingly yesterday, is also destined for great things. Add to that Philippe Coutinho and Brazil boast an attacking triumvirate potent enough to rip through even the sturdiest international defence.
Gareth Southgate was clearly mindful of that when he prepared his side for this friendly and he would be right to reflect with some satisfaction on England’s success in stopping another world-class team from scoring here last night.
It would suggest that they are doing something right. This bold switch to a back three, or a back five as it was for most of this contest, is now an approach he should stick with for next summer’s World Cup.
Friendlies like this can create a misplaced sense of optimism but England’s manager deserves credit for seeing enough in these young players to believe that they can handle such an occasion. John Stones has delivered two commanding displays at the heart of the defence and Harry Maguire has grown in stature too. But last night Joe Gomez was the greatest success, marking his first international start with a marvellously mature display against Neymar.
It helped, of course, that some dazzling football by the South Americans was rather lacking in end product, the visitors managing just one effort on target in the opening 45 minutes. Neymar produced some wonderful touches, provoking a frenzied reaction from the visiting supporters every time he touched the ball.
Against an England side set up to contain rather than create, it proved a slightly frustrating night, even if it would be unfair to accuse England of not quite getting into the spirit of an evening enhanced by the rhythmic Samba beat of the wonderful Brazilian band.
As Chris Waddle said on the BBC, a greater sense of ambition could have invited a proper hiding from one of the finest teams in the world and right now that is not what Southgate needs.
Even had that occurred, one hopes Southgate would have stuck to his guns and continued with this plan and a recruitment drive that is seeing players from the junior ranks thrust into the senior international spotlight. If nothing else it has created some much-needed excitement around the national team.
But Southgate’s pragmatism also pointed to the reality of the situation, and the fact that England know a gulf remains between themselves and the very best. Brazilians remain cautious about what might be possible in Russia next summer. They reflect fondly on the fifth and most recent time they won the World Cup, when the three Rs of Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo destroyed not just England but every team they faced in Japan. But they also recall more ruefully how reality did not match their own high expectations when the ‘Magic Quartet’ of Kaka, Ronaldinho, Robinho and Adriano failed four years later in Germany. The last World Cup, and the 7-1 semifinal defeat to Germany, provided another painful lesson.
Even so, three-pronged attacks have been very much in vogue, with European club football dazzled by the forward lines of Real Madrid and Barcelona. With Neymar, Coutinho and Gabriel Fernando de Jesus, to give him his full name, Brazil boast a wealth of talent.
This is an excellent Brazil team the studious Tite has created, with a nice balance of flair and solidity, and it is all the better now he has settled on his front line. Tite started his first two games with Willian ahead of Coutinho. But the Chelsea man suffered a slump in form and Tite turned instead to the younger Liverpool playmaker, since when there has been a great improvement.
This, seasoned Brazil watchers reckon, is how things will remain for the World Cup, since Tite is pleased Jesus and Coutinho have eased the heavy burden on Neymar.
The No 10 knows there are now others not just able but willing to take on the responsibility of scoring goals.
In Brazil they adore Jesus too, and not just for his daring and skill. They love the fact that he is so humble. Love the fact that he gets a call from his mum wishing him luck before every game.
In this side Jesus remains very much the junior partner, with both Neymar and Coutinho five years his senior. But Tite has made it clear that the Manchester City forward will play through the middle as his No 9 in Russia and a muted display here won’t make him abandon his plans.
The same goes for Southgate. The personnel is likely to change, and with Harry Kane and Dele Alli up front Brazil might not have been quite as dominant in possession as they were last night.
Yet England’s foundations have been laid, the two goalless draws telling him that this is a system these England players can adapt to. It works, and after the last two major tournaments that represents progress.