Mano Menezes declared himself ‘partially satisfied’ by Brazil’s 1-0 win over Ghana in London. More than anything, though, he must surely be relieved. After a run of poor results a victory does much to ease the pressure that was starting to build up. And it was a comprehensive victory – probably the best team in Africa, Ghana hardly crossed the half way line after the interval.
As Menezes commented, it became a game of attack versus defence – Brazil’s coach added that this was not good for the quality for the spectacle and also not good for his team, because he wanted to see them in a more even match. Indeed, it was not even at the start.
For the first few minutes it was all Ghana. With central midfielder Derek Boeteng dominating the game, the Africans enjoyed most of the early possession and threatened to make the breakthrough. Their supporters would claim that everything turned on the red card given to Ghana left back Daniel Opare some ten minutes before half time. And yes, the sending off did change the match. But the truth was that even before then the control of proceedings had changed hands, with Brazil first playing their way into the action and then beginning to dominate.It could well be that on this occasion Brazil were actually favoured by the injury suffered by Paulo Henrique Ganso in the first ten minutes.
With Ganso, Neymar and Ronaldinho operating behind central striker Leandro Damiao, Brazil were looking top heavy. After nine minutes, hardly having touched the ball, Ganso was replaced by Elias. Then Brazil had a triangle in central midfield, Lucas Leiva at the base, flanked by Fernandinho and the newcomer. It meant that they got a grip on Boeteng, who began to be hustled into making mistakes.
Tired after Ghana’s recent game with Swaziland, Boeteng was so dispirited that he was withdrawn at the interval, and never again were Ghana a force in the game. In the early exchanges, with Boeteng pulling the strings, the Africans had slipped their wide midfielders inside Brazil’s full backs. Now, as Brazil balanced things up in central midfield, Ghana were forced back. Brazil had to cope with the question of how to beat the high defensive line of the Ghanaians.
At the start Brazil were bypassing midfield, hitting too long from the back. Once they had got a grip on the midfield they were able to trouble and stretch the Africans with big diagonal passes. Lucas set up the play from deep. Elias cut in to good effect from the left side of Brazil’s midfield triangle. Ghana were forced back, and space appeared for Neymar to start running at the defence. True, Opare’s red card had nothing to do with Brazil’s domination. He made a dangerous solo burst, taking out two defenders and breaking into the penalty area, where Lucio came across to cover. Opare caught him late and the referee reached for his second yellow card. It might well have been a harsh decision. But Opare was living on borrowed time. After receiving his first yellow, he had repeatedly been warned by the referee. A young defender, he was too inexperienced and impetuous to deal with Neymar. Had he not picked up his second yellow in the clash with Lucio, it was only a matter of time before Neymar forced his expulsion.
In a roundabout way, then, the fact that Ghana were down to ten men can be attributed to the control Brazil were beginning to exert. The only goal, on the stroke of half time, came when a clever Fernandinho pass was met by Leandro Damiao’s run, diagonal into the right channel, in space that Opare might have been covering. It was a good piece of movement and finishing from the Internacional striker who is enjoying such a splendid year. It might be harsh to criticize Damiao after scoring such a fine first goal for Brazil, but he must take some of the blame for the fact that Brazil did not score another.
Menezes went with width after the interval, aiming to stretch the defensive line of ten-man Ghana. Fernandinho, fresh from setting up the goal, was replaced at half time by striker Hulk, who operated wide on the right with Neymar moving infield. Brazil enjoyed almost all the possession, keeping Ghana pegged back in their own half. It was here that the limitations of Leandro Damiao with his back to goal were exposed. He is a highly promising young centre forward, with physical presence, good penalty area finishing and the ability to run with the ball from deep. But he is currently not good enough at providing a platform for the attacking midfielders, giving return passes with his back to goal.
In this aspect he suffers in comparison with Fred of Fluminense, the talented but frustrating centre forward who went to the Copa America. Leandro Damiao, though, is very much a work in progress. He is developing fast, and it is hardly surprising that there are some technical defects in his game – unlike most, he did not come through the ranks of a major club or recognised youth centre. It is not so long ago that he was effectively playing park football. There is plenty of time for him to keep adding new tricks to his repertoire. But is there plenty of time left for Ronaldinho?
It is a fascinating question, left tantalisingly unanswered by the performance he gave on his recall. He struck some superb set pieces, one free kick forcing an excellent save by Ghana’s young keeper Adam Kwarasey. As Ghana tired towards the end Ronaldinho started to find the space to send in some dangerous crosses. But for most of the game, from open play, he was a disappointingly peripheral figure. Afterwards Menezes said that he was looking more athletic. But he also commented that “the rhythm of international football is more intense than domestic Brazilian football. We’re aware of that, and Ronaldinho certainly felt it.” And if he feels the effects now, how much more will he do so in 2014?
One possible conclusion from the Ghana game is that Ronaldinho is unlikely to be a first choice player in the next World Cup, especially bearing in mind how uncomfortably top heavy Brazil looked in the first few minutes, before Ganso limped off. There is always the chance that Ronaldinho might have an important role to play coming off the bench in 2014, an impact substitute to strike some late set pieces.
But even if he is unable to last the next three years, if Ronaldinho can help take some of the pressure off the youngsters at this delicate stage of the build up then he will have played an important part in the campaign.
