Ronaldinho and Damiao Shine As Brazil Defeat Ghana 1-0

Brazil defeated Ghana 1-0 on Monday at Craven Cottage from a goal by Leandro Damiao, the young Internacional striker in the hottest of form. Although billed as a friendly, the match represented a fierce competition between the South American giants and the 2010 World Cup quarterfinalists, beginning with end to end soccer from both teams that transitioned to a one sided attack by Brazil after Ghana’s Daniel Opare was ejected for a questionable second yellow card in the 33rd minute. The friendly featured a total of 8 yellow cards, two for Brazil, and six for Ghana.

Brazil coach Mano Menezes started with three strikers in the form of Ronaldinho, Leandro Damiao and Neymar. The three strikers played in front of Fernandinho and Elias, who in turn played in front of Lucas Leiva in his traditional defensive midfield position. The other notable addition to his squad was Marcelo in the left back position, starting in lieu of Andre Santos.

Ronaldinho’s return to the Brazilian national team after a ten month absence did wonders for the Selecao as the 2002 World Cup winner added a much needed dose of experience and leadership to the Brazilian front line. Dinho curled in dangerous corners throughout the match and at least a couple of his free kicks almost found the back of the net had it not been for some spectacular goalkeeping by the Ghanaian goalkeeper Kwarasey. Neymar posed problems for the Ghanaian defense by popping up on both the left and right flanks and dribbling from a wide position toward the center of the field.

Leandro Damiao appeared to open the scoring in the 26th minute from an assist by Neymar, but he was rightly deemed offside. Just before half time, the Internacional hit man struck again by latching onto a magnificent through ball from Fernandinho and then dispatching it to the keeper’s right with clinical precision. In the second half, Mano opted to up the ante of his team’s attack by substituting Fernandinho for Hulk, effectively playing four strikers.

Hulk added spice to the attack on the right flank by combining deftly with Elias and Dani Alves but Brazil struggled to break down a Ghanaian team that had gone into a defensive shell after Opare’s ejection. Mano substituted Pato for Damiao late in the match to vary Brazil’s attack further, and the move almost paid dividends when Ronaldinho whipped in a curling ball that Pato headed onto goal only to encounter another remarkable save from Kwarasey in the 85th minute.

Overall, this was a highly encouraging match for Brazil and a disappointing performance by Ghana. The match began with Ghana threatening the Brazilian goal from both flanks but the Black Stars decided to limit the damage after going down to 10 men rather than finding a way to score an equalizer. On Brazil’s side, the match illustrated the enduring brilliance of Ronaldinho, Marcelo’s versatility as a left back, Leandro Damiao’s imposing presence in the box and the mouthwatering potential of a 4-1-2-3 formation. Mano continues to surprise as coach of the Brazilian national team with his squad selections, starting line-ups and substitutions. Brazil now face Argentina in their next international friendly on September 14.

Robinho's Absence From Ghana Friendly Throws Stars Wide Open For Brazil Formation

Robinho will miss Brazil's friendly against Ghana on September 5 due to a groin injury. The injury to the AC Milan striker sets up a constellation of mouthwatering formations for Mano Menezes and the Selecao. Given Robinho's absence, Mano may decide to play a 4-2-2-2 instead of a 4-2-1-3, with Ganso and Ronaldinho behind Neymar and Pato. Another option would be for Mano to stay with his favored 4-2-1-3 formation by dropping Ganso from the starting line-up, and playing Ronaldinho behind Neymar, Hulk and Pato or Neymar, Leandro Damiao and Pato. Alternatively, Mano could retain Ganso in midfield and push Ronaldinho into the center forward position between Neymar and Pato or Neymar and Hulk. A three pronged attack of Neymar, Ronaldinho and Hulk would keep Hulk in the right winger position that he plays at FC Porto.

Here's a summary of the Brazil line-up options, where AMF refers to attacking midfielder and F stands for Forward:

4-2-2-2 formation:

(1) Ganso (AMF), Ronaldinho (AMF), Neymar (F), Pato (F)

4-2-1-3 formation:

(2) Ronaldinho (AMF), Neymar (F), Hulk (F), Pato (F)
(3) Ronaldinho (AMF), Neymar (F), Damiao (F), Pato (F)
(4) Ganso (AMF), Neymar (F), Ronaldinho (F), Hulk (F)
(5) Ganso (AMF), Neymar (F), Ronaldinho (F), Pato (F)

Ronaldinho has been in blistering form for Flamengo of late, scoring goals most recently against Avai, Internacional and Atletico PR. That said, the web is buzzing about Ganso's one touch strike against Sao Paulo this week, in which the youngster played a one two with Alan Kardec to send a sublime left footed rocket into the roof of the net. Add to all this Leandro Damiao's sensational form for Internacional and The Hulk's hunger for a place in the Brazil starting line-up, and it's easy to see how Mano faces a tough set of choices against an attack oriented Ghana team. Ghana's Black Stars may be without striker Asamoah Gyan due to a thigh injury suffered in Friday's Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier against Swaziland.

Mano Recalls Ronaldinho and The Hulk to Brazil Squad For Ghana Friendly

Brazil coach Mano Menezes recalled Ronaldinho and the Hulk to his roster for Brazil’s September 5 friendly against Ghana in London. The call-up of Ronaldinho and the Hulk to the Brazilian national football team represented the most candid admission so far, by Menezes, of the inefficacy of his squad selections and starting line-ups, particularly in the areas of Brazil’s attacking midfield and striker combinations. Speaking of Ronaldinho, Mano mentioned that "he's been playing frequently and showing his physical improvement because we never doubted his technical (abilities).” Ronaldinho has scored nine goals in 15 games in Brazil and could very well function as the attacking midfield playmaker that Brazil desperately needs. Mano had originally envisioned Paulo Henrique Ganso as the playmaker “that would organize the team the way I want,” but the 21 year old Santos star has yet to shine in the attacking midfielder role previously occupied by the likes of Kaka, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo and Socrates. Mano’s inclusion of The Hulk and Leandro Damiao alongside the decision to drop Fred speaks volumes regarding his search for a center forward that can pose a dominant poaching threat and create space for a combination of Neymar, Robinho and Pato to operate on the wings.

For Porto, the Hulk plays as right winger with Rademel Falcao in the center and Cristian Rodriguez on the wide left. In some of Porto’s most devastating performances, the Hulk pulls right, stretching the defense, allowing space for an attacking midfielder like Fredy Gurain to push forward. In other matches, Falcao drops deep, allowing the Hulk and Rodriguez to push forward. For Brazil, however, Mano may need to play The Hulk differently, in more of a direct center forward role given the inefficacy of Pato and Fred in that position. One option would be to replicate AC Milan’s formation with Hulk taking the place of Ibrahimovic, flanked by Robinho and Pato.

Regardless, Mano desperately needs to leverage Ronaldinho’s experience and technical ability, and The Hulk’s competitive hunger to start scoring goals and set the team back to its winning ways. After almost two decades of a golden age of Brazilian football, the performance of the team has declined to the point where it resembles a ghost of the glorious victories enabled by players such as Romario, Bebeto, Dunga, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Roberto Carlos and Cafu. Brazil has now suffered two consecutive defeats to Paraguay and Germany. Out of 14 matches, Mano can claim an unenviable record of seven wins, four losses and three draws.

Brazil play Ghana at Craven Cottage Stadium in London on September 5. The last time Brazil played Ghana was in the second round of the 2006 World Cup, when Brazil won by a score of 3-0 in which Ronaldo set a World Cup record by scoring his 15th World Cup goal.

Brazil Squad

Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), Jefferson (Botafogo), Fabio (Cruzeiro)

Defenders: Lucio (Inter Milan), Thiago Silva (AC Milan), Dedé (Vasco da Gama), David Luiz (Chelsea), Dani Alves (Barcelona), Danilo (Santos), Marcelo (Real Madrid)

Midfielders: Adriano (Barcelona), Lucas Leiva (Liverpool), Luiz Gustavo (Bayern Munich), Ralf (Corinthians), Elias (Atletico Madrid), Fernandinho (Shakhtar Donetsk), Paulo Henrique Ganso (Santos), Lucas (Sao Paulo)

Strikers: Ronaldinho (Flamengo), Robinho (AC Milan), Alexandre Pato (AC Milan), Neymar (Santos), Hulk (FC Porto), Leandro Damiao (Internacional)