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Friday's 2-0 win over Costa Rica gets Brazil on their way in this World Cup, but a question remains: Where is the team that cut such an imperious swathe through South American qualifying, the team that, after coach Tite took over, accumulated 10 wins and two draws, scoring 30 and conceding just three? It appears in flashes -- the first 20 minutes against Switzerland and the last six vs. Costa Rica, for example -- but there is no denying that the side, which made football look easy in the build-up to the tournament, have found things tough going in Russia. What might be the explanation? Changes have had mixed results There have been two main changes to the architecture of Tite's line-up since the qualification campaign ended last October. One has been the replacement of Marquinhos by Thiago Silva at centre-back and that might have been an error. Brazil's coach has given preference to Thiago Silva's capacity to pass the ball out of the back and he may also be worried by the relatively small stature of Marquinhos. But the man left out is the only youthful central defender in the Brazil squad and, in addition to his undoubted quality, is by far the quickest. The Thiago-Silva-Miranda partnership is one of veterans, who could be caught out by swift counter-attacks. As for their physical attributes, as if by poetic justice the only goal Brazil have so far conceded came from a corner. With Marquinhos in the side, it is easier for Brazil to defend higher and thus stay compact. And the fluidity of their game in possession is based on that. Thiago Silva and Miranda mean they can become too stretched out. The other change has been the replacement of Renato Augusto in midfield, first by Fernandinho, then by Phillippe Coutinho, with Willian keeping his place on the right. In his own quiet way, Renato played a vital role, organising the play from deep and linking the lines. Both things were missed against Costa Rica; Tite might consider a way to fit Renato back into the side.
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The opposition is better Early results in this World Cup have confirmed the impression that the last CONMEBOL qualification campaign had the lowest standard of play for 20 years. Only Brazil, as well as Uruguay at the end, could have been entirely happy with their form. Colombia always looked scrappy, as seen in their defeat to Japan; Argentina were dismal, a trend that has continued in Russia; Peru have exceeded expectations with the quality of their play, but have lost both games. Before Brazil's stoppage-time goals on Friday, Uruguay were the only South American team to have won a game. Tite's men are coming up against a higher standard of opposition -- certainly better organized --and, as they struggle to make the breakthrough, this is piling on the pressure. The pressure of a World Cup is different Late in the game, with the score still 0-0, the ball fell nicely for Neymar, who ran at Costa Rica's goal only to curl a shot just wide. It was the type of opportunity that, in qualifying, might have flown into the top corner, but pressure takes its toll and makes for minor errors of calibration. And pressure is something this Brazil side is certainly feeling. As always, the prestige of the nation is at stake, prestige still shaken from the infamous 7-1 semifinal defeat to Germany four years ago. As always, a place in the history books awaits those who triumph, while those who do not will be branded for life. An indication of the toll all this is taking on Neymar when seen when he broke down in tears at the final whistle. He later explained his emotions but, watching at the time, it was impossible not to reflect upon the fact that he has "Neymar Jr" on the back of his shirt. Is he mature enough to lead a side through five more matches, all the way to triumph on July 15?
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