Brazil approach their 100th World Cup finals match on Monday against Cameroon in Brasilia — with more questions than answers. Brazil’s first week in the World Cup has destroyed nearly all of the certainties that surrounded the hosts and favourites: that they have a strong team, a well-defined system, a solid defence — and a formidable attacking tandem in Neymar and Fred.
All of these convictions started to go up in smoke on June 12, when Brazil started out with a 3-1 comeback defeat of Croatia, thanks partly to a dubious penalty for a non-existent foul on Fred.
The doubts intensified with Tuesday’s 0-0 draw against Mexico, which meant that for the first time since 1978 Brazil go into their third group match without having already booked their place in the second round. Fred’s goal drought, the poor impact of full-backs Dani Alves and Marcelo, the lack of creativity in midfield, the excessive dependency on Neymar — these are the problems detected by the experts for the 2014 version of Brazil.
The first week of the World Cup has ended the harmony that reigned between the team and the Brazilian media.
In the last few days, the press conferences of the Brazil players have been like police interrogations, even though the players picked to talk have been defenders — the least criticised of the team. “After the performances of Brazil and of the other candidates, do you still think you are the favourites?” David Luiz was asked, while Marcelo was asked whether the team was training too little. Marcelo was also asked about his physical condition, following his injuries this season with Real Madrid. He answered with both irony and aggression: “I am fine. Before the World Cup I felt fine. Before the warm-up friendlies I felt fine, in the final of the Champions League I felt fine, and now also I feel fine.”
Coach Luis Felipe Scolari has not answered his critics but he seems to have listened to them: Friday saw him leading a tactical session with his entire squad, the first in two weeks.
