Brazil Defeat Egypt 2-0: Hulk and Jonas Lead Attack

Brazil produced yet another scintillating display in a 2-0 victory against Egypt that showcased the midfield revolution ushered in by coach Mano Menezes since taking charge of the Selecao. Brazil dominated possession in the first half, allowing the Egyptians to obtain scarcely a touch on the ball through short, one touch passing. Jonas and Hulk retreated deep into midfield to help out Lucas Leiva, Fernandinho, Bruno Cesar and Hernanes as Brazil withdrew their strikers while pulling the midfield front line further up the pitch, closer to goal. Hulk dominated the proceedings, partnering effectively with Dani Alves on the right flank and leveraging his favored left foot to cut inside and interchange with Bruno Cesar, Hernanes and Fernandinho. Hulk’s attacking play on the right flank led to Brazil’s first goal via a bullet of a cross that the poaching Jonas tapped into the back of the net in the 39^th minute.

Egypt asserted themselves more strongly in the second half, but Brazil continued to dominate through inspiring midfield play. Hulk switched over to the left flank for much of the second half to destabilize the Egyptian defense while Hernanes drifted right and Dani Alves pushed forward as an auxiliary right sided attacker. The second goal came from an attack on the left flank that led to a Bruno Cesar free kick. In the 59th minute, Fernandinho headed Cesar’s free kick into the hands of keeper Ahmed Al Shenawi. Al Shenawi spilled the ball directly into the path of the opportunistic Jonas who tapped it in for his second goal of the evening.

The match revealed the power of the Fernandinho-Hernanes midfield pairing, Hulk’s ability to hold the ball and the possibilities inherent in the Jonas-Hulk strike partnership, particularly given that Brazil lack a strike partnership at present. Brazil have now secured five consecutive victories and can claim a thoroughly revamped midfield in the course of 17 months. Now, Mano needs to work on producing more goals. Based on today’s performance, one attractive option would be to play Neymar, Leandro Damiao or Jonas, and Hulk in a three pronged attack in front of Fernandinho and Hernanes.

Brazil Starting Lineup Against Egypt For Doha Friendly

The friendly against Egypt on Monday marks the last international match for Brazil in 2011. Mano Menezes has replaced Fabio, Adriano and Elias from the starting lineup against Gabon with Dani Alves, Alex Sandro and Fernandinho respectively. The lineup fields Fernandinho with Hernanes in an intriguing midfield pairing that promises to set the stage for the Brazilian midfield in 2012, with allowances for Ronaldinho, Kaka, Elias and Ganso as they become fit and deem themselves available. The friendly against Egypt also represents Hulk’s seventh cap for the Selecao. Hulk has failed to score for Brazil in his six appearances so far, so Egypt should be his for the taking as it represents a golden opportunity for the FC Porto striker to consolidate his place at the forefront of Brazil’s attack alongside Neymar and Leandro Damiao. With Pato and Robinho either injured or lacking in form, expect Hulk to explode in the Egypt game to prove he can score goals at the international level.

Probable Starting Lineup: 4-1-1-2-2

Diego Alves (GK), Daniel Alves, Thiago Silva (captain), David Luiz, Alex Sandro, Lucas Leiva, Fernandinho, Hernanes, Bruno Cesar, Hulk and Jonas.

Brazil Defeat Gabon 2-0 With New Midfield Quartet

Brazil defeated Gabon 2-0 on a horrendously soggy pitch that rendered it difficult for the Selecao to find its footing and play its trademark passing game. Brazil can credit their victory to first half goals by Sandro and Hernanes, the latter of whom can justifiably lay claim to the man of the match designation. Given injuries to Kaka and Marcelo, and the absence of Luiz Gustavo, Mano Menezes opted for yet another new midfield formation featuring Sandro and Elias behind Bruno Cesar and Hernanes. The lineup represented a strategic move to play more skilled midfielders in a deeper role in contrast to the stopper position that Brazil has historically fielded through the likes of Lucas Leiva, Gilberto Silva and Carlos Dunga. Hernanes carved out space on the right side of midfield and created a number of opportunities for the strike partnership of Hulk and Jonas. The match was dominated by scrappy play in difficult conditions but Brazil did well to come away with a victory and offer valuable playing time to the attacking trio of substitutes Willian, Dudu and Kleber. Brazil next face Egypt in Doha on Monday. The key takeaway, here, is that Mano is beginning to think about a quartet of skilled midfielders as opposed to a midfield dominated by one creative playmaker in the vein of Ronaldinho, Kaka or Ganso.

Kaka and Marcelo To Miss Brazil Friendlies Against Gabon and Egypt

Kaka and Marcelo will miss Brazil’s upcoming friendlies against Gabon and Egypt due to injury. Kaka’s absence throws the door wide open for Hernanes and Willian to take up a starting position at the heart of Brazil’s attacking midfield. Hernanes, who can play in both an offensive and defensive midfield position, may well up end up taking over the playmaker role alongside the uncapped Willian, who plays for Shakhtar Donetsk. Brazil will also be without midfielder Luiz Gustavo for the match against Gabon, who was unable to obtain the required vaccination to enter the country. Luiz Gustavo will join Brazil for the match against Egypt in Doha.

Report: Neymar Commits To Transfer to Real Madrid

Unconfirmed reports suggest that Santos star Neymar has committed to joining Real Madrid in the summer of 2012. If true, the move to Real Madrid would represent the next major step in Neymar’s development as a player, forcing him to encounter more skilled defenders than he currently does in Brazil and fight for a place in Jose Mourinho’s starting line-up amongst the likes of Kaka, Mesut Ozil, Gonzalo Higuain and Cristiano Ronaldo. Neymar has scored eleven goals for Santos in Brazil’s Serie A this season and recently scored four times in last week’s league match against Paranaense. The lanky Brazilian will face the sternest challenge of his professional career at Real Madrid in the form of a move that will serve as the true litmus test of his ability to adapt to more disciplined marking and tactical formations than those he has encountered thus far in Brazil.

Mano's Next Move: Hernanes for Lucas Leiva?

The obvious question, for any serious follower of the Brazilian football, is whether Mano Menezes has the courage to replace Lucas Leiva with Hernanes in the team's deepest midfield position. On one hand, Leiva has become somewhat of a staple in the Brazilian starting line-up. On the other, insofar as the squad is increasingly modeled on Tele Santana’s legendary Brazilian side of 1982, Mano may well decide to opt for greater technical ability in a deeper midfield position and share the burden of playmaking responsibilities currently shouldered by Ronaldinho and Kaka with someone like Hernanes, who can also switch gears to play more of an offensive midfield role such as the position he plays at Lazio. Given Kaka's recall, the stage is set for Mano to play two number 10s in ways analogous to Socrates and Zico, either in the form of Kaka and Ronaldinho, Ronaldinho and Ganso, or some combination thereof. The question now is whether Mano has the courage to play Hernanes and Fernandinho together behind the two number 10s in a formation that recalls the deep midfield pairing of Falcao and Cerezzo in 1982. Starting Hernanes instead of Lucas Leiva could well take some pressure off the Brazilian number 10s and allow creativity in midfield to emerge from a deeper position in the center of the park.

Brazil Squad For Gabon and Egypt Friendlies

Mano Menezes named a squad of European based Brazilian players for November friendlies against Gabon and Egypt that featured Kaka, Marcelo and Hulk.

Key points of Mano’s squad selection are as follows:

• Kaka’s return to the Brazilian team after an inspiring start to the season at Real Madrid, featuring three goals, two assists and a consolidated role in Jose Mourinho’s line-up. Kaka returns to the Brazilian team after over a year. He last played for Brazil in their quarterfinal loss to the Netherlands at the 2010 World Cup.

• Marcelo’s selection as left back given his brilliant performance and goal against Mexico.

• Hulk’s selection after a respectable performance against Mexico. Hulk is likely to start and lead the attack, particularly given the absence of Neymar and Leandro Damiao.

• Hernanes, who may end up replacing Lucas Leiva as the team evolves.

• Willian’s inclusion as a 23 year old attacking midfielder who plays for Shakhtar.

Reagrding Kaka, Mano Menezes remarked: “I think of Kaka as I do of Ronaldinho. We need players of their experience in the national team. That doesn’t mean he’s already done enough but you have more confidence in him being able to produce more and more at the highest level.”

Brazil play Gabon in Libreville on November 10 and Egypt in Doha on November 14.

Goalkeepers: Neto (Fiorentina), Diego Alves (Valencia).

Defenders: Marcelo (Real Madrid), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Adriano (Barcelona), Alex Sandro (Porto), Fabio (Manchester United), Thiago Silva (AC Milan), David Luiz (Chelsea), Luisao (Benfica).

Midfielders: Dudu (Dynamo Kiev), Elias (Sporting, Portugal), Fernandinho (Shakhtar Donetsk), Hernanes (Lazio), Kaka (Real Madrid), Lucas Leiva (Liverpool), Luiz Gustavo (Bayern Munich), Bruno Cesar (Benfica), Sandro (Tottenham).

Strikers: Hulk (Porto), Jonas (Valencia), Kleber (Porto), Willian (Shakhtar Donetsk)