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Brazil come from behind to end France’s unbeaten run in Paris friendly Brazil come from behind to end France’s unbeaten run in Paris friendly
(35 minutes later)
With just over 14 months now to go before the opening match of Euro 2016, France and Brazil played out a thrillingly full-blooded friendly on the same pitch that will stage the hosts’ curtain-raiser in the summer of next year. Not that Didier Deschamps will draw much encouragement from the result in Paris, or from France’s wilting performance after taking the lead only to see Brazil’s high-pressing, relentlessly mobile front four pull a powerful French midfield all over the place at times as they came back to win 3-1. With just over 14 months to go before the opening match of Euro 2016, France and Brazil played out a thrillingly full-blooded friendly on the same pitch that will stage the hosts’ curtain-raiser in the summer of next year. Not that Didier Deschamps will draw much encouragement from the result in Paris, or from France’s wilting performance after taking the lead only to see Brazil’s high-pressing, relentlessly mobile front four pull a powerful French midfield all over the place at times as they came back to win 3-1.
On a damp, chilly night in Saint-Denis the steeply-banked fibreglass macaron that is Stade De France was seething with Tricolors before kick-off for what felt like a genuine matchday dress rehearsal. Friendlies here have a reputation as fairly desultory affairs, but there were urgent noises off for both these teams and a genuine intensity to the occasion from the start. On a damp, chilly night in Saint-Denis the steeply banked fibreglass macaron that is Stade De France was seething with Tricolors before kick-off for what felt like a genuine matchday dress rehearsal. Friendlies here have a reputation as fairly desultory affairs, but there were urgent noises off for both these teams and a genuine intensity to the occasion from the start.
Brazil, still tender from last summer’s World Cup, are preparing for the Copa América in Chile, while for France Euro 2016 is now a tangible lurking pressure. Given the mess Uefa has made of the qualifying phase the hosts are hardly alone in seeking to generate their own sense of urgency through a room temperature build-up. Happily a visit from Brazil always tends to come with a portable sense of verve, not least with the echoes here of the last time these two met in this stadium, the final of France 98, recalled also by the presence in the stands of Ronaldo, here to commentate for television, and of course by both Deschamps and Dunga, opposing midfield generals that day and coaches here. Brazil, still tender from last summer’s World Cup, are preparing for the Copa América in Chile, while for France Euro 2016 is now a tangible lurking pressure. Given the mess Uefa has made of the qualifying phase the hosts are hardly alone in seeking to generate their own sense of urgency through a room temperature buildup. Happily, a visit from Brazil always tends to come with a portable sense of verve, not least with the echoes here of the last time these two met in this stadium, the final of France 98, recalled also by the presence in the stands of Ronaldo, here to commentate for television, and of course by both Deschamps and Dunga, opposing midfield generals that day and coaches here.
On this evidence Dunga has at least brought a familiar Dunga-brand feistiness to a Brazil team that showed nine changes here from the shellacking by Germany in the Maracanã. Stalking the touchline in a disappointingly sober suit after the extravagant tailored blousons of his first spell in charge Dunga also introduced a whiff of tactical flexibility, fielding Roberto Firmino in attack alongside Neymar, with Willian and Oscar just behind, a quartet of scampering ball-players where Brazil have tended to play a more muscular central striker. On this evidence Dunga has at least brought a familiar Dunga-brand feistiness to a Brazil team that showed nine changes here from the thrashing by Germany in the Maracanã. Stalking the touchline in a disappointingly sober suit after the extravagant tailored blousons of his first spell in charge, Dunga also introduced a whiff of tactical flexibility, fielding Roberto Firmino in attack alongside Neymar, with Willian and Oscar just behind, a quartet of scampering ball-players where Brazil have tended to play a more muscular central striker.
France started with Morgan Schneiderlin policing the base of midfield in a powerful central trio featuring also Blaise Matuidi, the hammer of Chelsea, and Moussa Sissoko a surging presence on the right. With seven minutes gone, having already troubled Brazil in the air, France really should have scored. Mathieu Valbuena’s corner from the left eventually found Karim Benzema six yards out. His header had the stadium on its feet, only for Jefferson to claw it away, a stunning whites-of-their-eyes reaction save. France started with Morgan Schneiderlin policing the base of midfield in a powerful central trio featuring also Blaise Matuidi, the hammer of Chelsea, and Moussa Sissoko, a surging presence on the right. With seven minutes gone, having already troubled Brazil in the air, France really should have scored. Mathieu Valbuena’s corner from the left eventually found Karim Benzema six yards out. His header had the stadium on its feet, only for Jefferson to claw it away, a stunning whites-of-their-eyes reaction save.
In the 20th minute Neymar had the first real chance for Brazil. Raphaël Varane’s heavy touch gave the ball to Firmino, he fed Neymar and his caressed side-footed shot was too close to Steve Mandanda. Varane made amends two minutes later with the opening goal, this time headed straight in from Valbuena’s corner, the centre-back leaping in front of Miranda in a manner eerily reminiscent of Zinedine Zidane’s twin first-half headers 17 years ago.In the 20th minute Neymar had the first real chance for Brazil. Raphaël Varane’s heavy touch gave the ball to Firmino, he fed Neymar and his caressed side-footed shot was too close to Steve Mandanda. Varane made amends two minutes later with the opening goal, this time headed straight in from Valbuena’s corner, the centre-back leaping in front of Miranda in a manner eerily reminiscent of Zinedine Zidane’s twin first-half headers 17 years ago.
Briefly France’s power and athleticism looked like it might be decisive, with Sissoko twice simply driving through the midfield away from Elias. But Brazil were uncowed, pressing high up the pitch – again something new from Dunga 2.0 – and Neymar and Firmino combining well. Firmino is an interesting player, a late bloomer at Hoffenheim via the deep south state of Santa Catarina, in the tapering peak of Brazil’s European nether regions.Briefly France’s power and athleticism looked like it might be decisive, with Sissoko twice simply driving through the midfield away from Elias. But Brazil were uncowed, pressing high up the pitch – again something new from Dunga 2.0 – and Neymar and Firmino combining well. Firmino is an interesting player, a late bloomer at Hoffenheim via the deep south state of Santa Catarina, in the tapering peak of Brazil’s European nether regions.
He provides an upright, mobile foil for Neymar, and here he made Brazil’s equaliser, barging past Matuidi and producing a lovely improvised stab-pass through the legs of Schneiderlin. Oscar’s finish was toe-poked hard and low in the classic Ronaldo style.He provides an upright, mobile foil for Neymar, and here he made Brazil’s equaliser, barging past Matuidi and producing a lovely improvised stab-pass through the legs of Schneiderlin. Oscar’s finish was toe-poked hard and low in the classic Ronaldo style.
By half-time Brazil were the more progressive team, with Oscar’s fine driving runs in from the left causing Schneiderlin all sorts of problems.By half-time Brazil were the more progressive team, with Oscar’s fine driving runs in from the left causing Schneiderlin all sorts of problems.
Mandanda palmed away Luis Gustavo’s low drive after more tenacious work by Firmino, and with 56 minutes gone Brazil took the lead with a thrilling piece of play. Once more it came from fierce pressing, this time by Willian, who threaded a pass inside Patrice Evra and into Neymar’s run. The captain’s finish was unanswerable, a left-footed shot pummeled high into the net. It was Neymar’s 43rd international goal and – never mind the quality, check out the numbers – his 26th in the last two years. Mandanda palmed away Luiz Gustavo’s low drive after more tenacious work by Firmino, and with 56 minutes gone Brazil took the lead with a thrilling piece of play. Once more it came from fierce pressing, this time by Willian, who threaded a pass inside Patrice Evra and into Neymar’s run. The captain’s finish was unanswerable, a left-foot shot pummeled high into the net. It was Neymar’s 43rd international goal and – never mind the quality, check out the numbers – his 26th in the last two years.
France might have equalised immediately, Benzema volleying high into the Parisian night from five yards. But with 22 minutes left Luiz Gustavo made it 3-1, timing his run superbly to head past Mandanda direct from a corner, another Zidane-facsimile goal, and confirmation of Brazil’s greater precision and coherence on the night.France might have equalised immediately, Benzema volleying high into the Parisian night from five yards. But with 22 minutes left Luiz Gustavo made it 3-1, timing his run superbly to head past Mandanda direct from a corner, another Zidane-facsimile goal, and confirmation of Brazil’s greater precision and coherence on the night.
There was encouragement for France in the sight of Nabil Fekir of Lyon making his debut having committed himself to France ahead of Algeria. Fekir flickered nicely, all precision left=footed menace. France will now play Denmark in Saint-Etienne, while Brazil’s Chevrolet World Tour rolls on to the Emirates and Chile on Sunday. For Dunga’s new-build selecão this was a seventh win out of seven since the trauma of last summer, and surely the most convincing performance yet against a French team that will at least be grateful for the intensity of the occasion. There was encouragement for France in the sight of Nabil Fekir of Lyon making his debut having committed himself to France ahead of Algeria. Fekir flickered nicely, all precision left-footed menace. France will now play Denmark in Saint-Etienne, while Brazil’s Chevrolet World Tour rolls on to the Emirates and Chile on Sunday. For Dunga’s new-build selecão this was a seventh win out of seven since the trauma of last summer, and surely the most convincing performance yet against a French team that will at least be grateful for the intensity of the occasion.