For the first time since taking the Selecao hot seat last July, pressure is slowly beginning to mount on Mano Menezes. Charged with rebuilding Brazil post-Dunga, Menezes has guided his men to routine friendly victories over the United States, Iran, Ukraine, Scotland and Romania over the past year. In between came defeats to France and bitter rivals Argentina, but these disappointments were met with patience and understanding, with the majority of Brazilians realising minor bumps are expected as they seek to build a winning team for the 2014 World Cup.
However, last month, small signs of discontent towards the coach began to emerge. After playing successive friendlies across the world, Menezes took charge of this side for the first time on home soil against Holland in Goiania. 36,000 Brazilians, all seeking revenge for last summer’s World Cup elimination, packed into the Serra Dourada stadium. After a lacklustre display, devoid of flair and attacking ambition, Brazil stuttered to a goalless draw against the Oranje. The insipid nature of the hosts’ performance irked the home support and when the final whistle blew, the crowd bellowed: “Timinho, Timinho.” This sarcastic mocking accused the five-time world champions of playing negatively, like a ‘small team’.
For many Brazilians victory in the Copa America is not a priority. Everything they have done since last summer’s exit in South Africa, to the first ball that will be kicked in June 2014, is carefully geared towards securing a sixth World Cup. Winning football’s greatest prize on home soil, making up for the Maracanazo disaster of 1950 when Brazil were stunned in the final by Uruguay, heavily occupies Brazilian minds. This summer’s competition in Argentina is viewed as a fantastic opportunity to prepare the next generation - Neymar, Ganso, Lucas et al - for tournament football at senior level. Failure by Menezes might be tolerated, but a second half performance like Sunday’s in La Plata, where Brazil were held to a 0-0 draw by a spirited Venezuela side, will not.
If the game against the Dutch displayed a slight strain in Menezes’ relationship with the fans, then Monday morning’s papers clearly demonstrated the media’s. They were seething about the lethargic nature of the performance against Venezuela. “The Brazilian team failed its first official test under coach Mano Menezes - and left the stadium to a chorus of boos,” lamented the Folha de Sao Paulo. One of the country’s biggest publications, O Globo, scowled: “The men’s team turned in a ridiculous performance against the Venezuelans and the players left the pitch shame-faced after the 0-0 draw,” before a sarcastic dig, “but at least we have Marta,” referencing the world-famous Brazilian women’s national team player.
Like recent games, it was Jekyll and Hyde stuff from the holders, perhaps most notable was their lack of composure in the final third. Brazil started strongly; their high-tempo approach caught the Venezuelans by surprise. Both full backs - Dani Alves and Andre Santos - pushed forward at every opportunity to provide width; the latter once again demonstrating his growing partnership with Neymar on the left and at times looking like Brazil’s most creative player. On the opposite side, Dani Alves’ driving runs, as always, created problems. In the 27th minute, the Barcelona star set-up Pato, who rattled the Venezuela bar with a cracking drive from 15 yards. Neymar and Robinho had fantastic chances to score, but the Venezuelans stood firm. For the third successive game, despite creating a host of chances, the Brazilians failed to make the breakthrough and went in at the break with their heads down. Over the half-time break they again transformed from the sublime to the ridiculous.
Right from the whistle Brazil looked anaemic and one-paced; so devoid of creativity they failed to muster a single shot on target throughout the half. Venezuela’s free-flowing counter-attack easily broke through Lucas and Ramires, while the disappointing Ganso wandered around aimlessly in the mezzanine between midfield and attack, looking lost as the game passed him by. It was a huge risk from Menezes to gamble on the 21-year-old - who before kick-off played just 90 minutes since sustaining a thigh injury in May - as his sole creative player. In the end, the space between Ganso and the two defensive midfielders proved too big, and with no other link player in the centre to set any rhythm or tempo, they resorted to lumping the ball long to the front three. Credit has to go to the Venezuelan coach, however, who got his tactics spot-on and secured an historic point for his country.
The result means tomorrow’s clash with Paraguay is now a must-win game. Talking to the media on Tuesday, Menezes flirted with the idea of making changes: “If we see in training that we need a change, then we can try something different. But let’s not just blame the attack…the adjustments will be for everybody. We controlled the game and took the initiative, but lacked potency up front. We were very open but the centre forward was not getting enough support. This is what we will be aiming to improve.”
However, the head coach looks set to persevere with the same eleven that started against Venezuela. Notably, at the end of Wednesday’s practice game in training, Menezes replaced Ramires and Robinho with Elano and Lucas Moura, indicating this potent double substitution will be his first option should they struggle once again on Saturday evening.
Menezes is still likely to survive returning from Argentina without the Copa America trophy. But if he is to keep his job ahead of the World Cup, he will have to keep the public and media onside with a more aesthetically pleasing brand of football.
Brian Maxwell
