If entertainment was what you were looking for, entertainment was what you got. The atmosphere at the Stade de Geneve in Switzerland was electrifying when the two powerhouses of world football squared off. Whether you supported the Samba Kings or the Azzurri, this was one “friendy” you couldn’t wait to sink your teeth into.
Elite Goalkeeping
Within a couple of minutes, both Julio César and Gigi Buffon made excellent saves which epitomize the meaning of world-class. The first 5 minutes alone previewed what the rest of the match would bring. There were moments where Neymar, Hernanes, and Hulk slipped past Italy’s defence, but Buffon’s experience allowed him to block their efforts. Julio César was no short of brilliance when he made crucial saves to prevent the score from tipping. Italy could have easily gotten 5 goals in the first half.
Andrea Pirlo the Maestro
Pirlo is the best at his craft. Employed as a regista, he made it clear why he is the architect of the midfield. He set up important goal-scoring opportunities with perfectly-timed crosses. His presence gave the Azzurri the control, possession, and fluid movement to threaten in Brazil’s half pushing forward.
Mattia de Sciglio’s Debut
At 20 years of age, this young talent made his start against a formidable opposition. The left-back held his own ground against the likes of Dani Alves and Hulk. He already displays a sensible maturity and will continue to develop if given more chances. Surely, a player to watch out for in the future.
Neymar-Oscar Connection
The link-up play between Neymar and Oscar was phenomenal. A run by Neymar was well-read by Oscar who tapped in a goal for Brazil right before half-time. Neymar’s agility and Oscar’s vision for goals complement each other. They were standouts in Brazil’s strong, attacking style-of-play. Does this mean a move to Chelsea for Neymar could be in the cards? It’s too early to tell, but the possibilities are endless.
Written by: Goral Patel
Follow me on Twitter: @goralpatel
FT: Brazil 2-2 Italy
Goals
Fred - 33'
Oscar - 42’
De Rossi - 54’
Balotelli - 56’
 |
| Image via Getty Images |
 |
| Image via AFP |
 |
| Image via AFP |
 |
| Image via AFP |
0 comments:
Post a Comment