World Soccer

Neymar Has Adapted to European Football

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Neymar. (Photo: Vanderlei Almeida/AFP)
Neymar. (Photo: Vanderlei Almeida/AFP)

 

It only took a few games for Neymar to fully adapt to European football and playing with Barcelona.

The Neymar critics have been circling around like vultures for the last few years with the bizarre logic that the best Brazilian player of his generation would somehow not be able to cut it in Europe, despite an abundance of video evidence showcasing incredible ball control, creativity, and athleticism on the club and international level.

Even after Neymar and Brazil humiliated and dominated Spain in the 2013 Confederations Cup Final with skill, athleticism, physicality, and psychological warfare, the Neymar critics still doubted whether Neymar would be able to mesh with Lionel Messi and fit in with Barcelona’s style of play.

The uniqueness of Barcelona’s style of play is somewhat of a historical fallacy because one-to-two touch soccer based on a passing and moving without the ball has been the recognized gold standard of world football since Pelé and before.

Even people who hate soccer and know nothing about it know that Brazil is the best soccer nation in the world, and most of the best soccer players come from Brazil. Even Americans who hate soccer associate soccer excellence with Brazil.

Therefore, it’s a mystery why so many people in the United Kingdom and in Europe insisted on perpetuating the ludicrous opinion that Neymar would struggle to adapt to La Liga, Barcelona, and Champions League football.

Over the last few years, Neymar’s body has filled out and matured quite a bit, even if he still has a thin physique as his natural body type, and it is surprising that more of Neymar’s detractors didn’t notice that Neymar was becoming more muscular and taller.

From the very first game of this summer’s Confederations Cup, Neymar announced to the world with his electrifying goals, assists, and overall play that critics would be eating their words.

The final nail in the critics’ coffin was the ruthless left-footed half-volleyed goal that Neymar scored near post by crushing a shot off the bounce straight at Iker Casillas’ face, even though Casillas, arguably the best goalkeeper in the world along with Gigi Buffon, had the near post covered.

The cold-blooded nature of that goal and the ability and confidence it took to pound it straight at Casillas’ head in the Confederations Cup Final should have silenced the critics once and for all because once he repeatedly scored and excelled against the best national teams and embarrassed Spain on international television, what more did Neymar need to do to prove that he was ready for European football?

As Barcelona’s season began, the critics were still out in full force saying that it would take Neymar a while to adapt to Spanish and European football until Neymar scored the game-winning header off a Daniel Alves cross to beat Atlético Madrid in the first leg of the Supercopa de España.

Not only did Neymar score, but by scoring a contested header with his head, Neymar showcased his complete skill-set to doubters who viewed him as a soft player who wouldn’t put himself in harm’s way.

Neymar knows how to compete in a physical sport while still avoiding injuries and protecting himself from reckless and dirty players.

In Neymar’s most recent game, which was against Sevilla, Neymar outplayed Messi, and Neymar showed that not only adapting to Spanish football but thriving was mere child’s play for a player of his abilities.

The Brazilian sensation’s real battle will be to win enough trophies and individual awards by continuing to balance individual brilliance while still being a player who plays for the team and makes his teammates better.

More so that Cristiano Ronaldo and maybe Messi, Neymar is likely a player who is better-equipped to make his teammates better while still distinguishing himself as the best player on the field.

Neymar wants the crown and the glory, but he will likely achieve both by not competing against his peers but by competing with his own standards and doing what is needed to win games.

Cristiano Ronaldo definitely views Messi as a competitor just as he viewed Kaká as a competitor, but like Tiger Woods, Neymar seems to only be competing with himself.

Contesting the fact that Messi is the world’s best footballer is considered blasphemy, but the 21-yeard-old Brazilian master looks to be a more complete player, who unlike Messi, uses both feet interchangeably and who is a more gifted passer with a bigger arsenal of individual skills to score and best opponents.

The problem for Neymar will be winning the Ballon d’Or four times with players like Mario Balotelli, Paul Pogba, Arturo Vidal, and many others around.

If the Brazilian maintains his relaxed personality and his big-game mentality, then focusing on success with Brazil and Barcelona will also bring the individual awards.

 

The Balotelli and Niang Striker Duo

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M'Baye Niang (left) and Mario Balotelli (right). (Photo: Icon Sport)
M’Baye Niang (left) and Mario Balotelli (right). (Photo: Icon Sport)

 

Stephan El Shaarawy is an exciting and gifted second striker, but Mario Balotelli and M’Baye Niang starting together as first strikers could be a lethal strike force for Milan this season.

The trident of Balotelli, Niang, and El Shaarawy works, and Massimiliano Allegri and Milan would be wise to start the trident, unless the tactics against a particular opponent call for choosing either Niang or El Shaarawy to partner with Balotelli up top.

While Balotelli and Niang are excellent dead ball specialists and passers who willingly combine with their teammates, El Shaarawy brings more of a second striker style of play than either Niang or Balotelli who bring an even more advanced element of speed combined with 1v1 abilities, which are off the charts.

If Allegri starts El Shaarawy, Balotelli, and Niang as a trident, Milan’s attack will look like a line of three forwards each inhabiting a certain wide or central area of the field, but really the players will be constantly moving and changing positions with each other to such an extent that their positions on paper won’t matter.

There’s no guarantee that Milan will start this trident up top as Allegri will have to decide which players he wants to start in the midfield. At midfield, Milan has players like Kevin-Prince Boateng, Riccardo Montolivo, Sulley Muntari, Antonio Nocerino, Nigel De Jong, Andrea Poli, and Robinho, who is a winger or second striker, and Allegri will have to find the best combination of these players and others.

Regardless of who starts in midfield and with or without El Shaarawy starting every game, Milan should place a premium on starting both Balotelli and Niang at striker because their combination of world-class speed and dazzling skill is simply too much of a weapon to not take advantage of.

Barcelona has Messi and Neymar in the attack, but Milan has two first strikers in Niang and Balotelli who work together to relentlessly attack the goal with their combination of skill, speed, and size, which is different to the Neymar and Messi combination.

While Niang and Balotelli are unique in their combination of skill, speed, size, and athleticism, there is room for El Shaarawy in the line-up, and Milan should take advantage of these three forwards in order to bring an onslaught of attackers every game.

No team in the world has two strikers with the skill and athleticism of Niang and Balotelli, and Milan needs to start these two strikers together and figure out what other four players are needed to field a balanced and effective midfield and attack.

For all of Balotelli’s individual skill and ability to execute difficult tricks and passes, Niang almost appears to possess better 1v1 dribbling abilities than Balotelli, and Niang just might be faster than Balotelli. This isn’t to say that Niang is better than Balotelli, but his speed and dribbling just might be better.

It’s rare to see soccer players who have the physique, athleticism, skill, and competitive mentality of Niang and Balotelli, but two strikers with these gifts and qualities on the same team is something that no other club or national team can match.

Rather than selecting Balotelli or Niang, Milan should start both strikers to terrorize defenses and dictate the tempo of the game, as it’s doubtful that any defense can truly contain players with Balotelli’s and Niang’s physical gifts and technical skills, especially when they are unleashed on opponents at the same time.

 

Brazilian Tactics for the USMNT

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Neymar's left-footed golaço past Iker Casillas. (Photo: AP Photo)
Neymar’s left-footed golaço past Iker Casillas. (Photo: AP Photo)

 

Supposedly, the United States Soccer Federation has been studying Brazilian soccer for years, and looking at some of the young MLS players and younger American products, maybe the USSF and MLS are placing a higher premium on technically-skilled players than they used to.

Nevertheless, Brazil’s Confederations Cup formations and starting line-ups are a good case study for the USMNT, even if the USMNT doesn’t have players who are as skilled as the very best Brazilian players.

The Seleção is the model that U.S. Soccer should look to study and emulate.

Brazilian soccer is based on skill and allowing the players the freedom to express themselves with the ball, which is Brazil’s main weapon against opponents, but Brazilian soccer is not without defense, tactics, or strategy.

Brazilian players are allowed the freedom to be more creative with the ball than other national teams, and Brazilians don’t base their attack on merely sending in a steady stream of crosses into the box without a clear target. The premium on working the ball around mostly on the ground is so high that many of the passes that the Brazilian national team executes in its own final third are very risqué by other national teams’ standards.

After a series of games intended to find his best formation and combination of players, Felipão found a strong and balanced Seleção XI right before the 2013 Confederations Cup started.

Traditionally, Brazil uses a 4-2-2-2 formation, but the Confederations Cup formation was more akin to a 4-2-3-1 where the right attacking midfielder and left attacking midfielders were really almost forwards.

There was nothing new or revolutionary about Felipão’s tactics, but they were well-designed and perfectly implemented. In the 4-2-3-1 formation, Brazil mostly used this XI below:

Julio Cesar; Daniel Alves, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Marcelo; Luiz Gustavo, Paulinho; Hulk, Oscar, Neymar; Fred.

 

The Seleção almost always exclusively uses two center backs, who have the technical ability and speed of a defensive midfielder, and outside backs that provide width to the attack while always defending the flanks with speed and skill.

In front of the defense, Brazil normally uses two defensive midfielders: one who is more of a midfield destroyer (Luiz Gustavo) and another who is a box-to-box midfielder (Paulinho).

These two players were one of the keys for Brazil’s success because they brought needed defensive skills to a midfield that allowed Brazil to win the ball back without sacrificing technical ability. They also ran without tiring.

There is some important background information about Brazil’s use of defensive midfielders.

It’s fairly well-known that Brazil uses a system of normally two defensive midfielders. One of them plays deeper and doesn’t really go forward, and this midfield destroyer is called a cabeça de área or a volante de contenção. In addition to this player who is associated with the number 5, there is also a more box-to-box midfielder who is associated with the number 8 and called a “volante.” “Volante” is a general term for any defensive midfielder, and it means “steering wheel.”

In front of these two defensive midfielders, Felipão used a line of three attacking midfielders where Oscar was the playmaker (meia-armador) in the middle and Neymar and Hulk were really almost forwards just lining up out left and right on paper.

Likewise, Jürgen Klinsmann has begun to at least iron out a tactical formation. Recently, Klinsmann starting using a 4-2-3-1 formation where two different kinds of defensive midfielders lined up behind three attacking midfielders and a striker. At times, Klinsmann used two strikers during the Gold Cup.

Klinsmann’s switch to the 4-2-3-1 formation was a deviation from his previous use of three defensive midfielders, but Klinsmann has still never fielded three highly-skilled attacking midfielders like Landon Donovan, Joe Benny Corona, and Clint Dempsey at the same time.

In the Gold Cup, a midfield destroyer was used next to an attacking midfielder (Stuart Holden or Mix Diskerud), who was impersonating a box-to-box midfielder, who both lined up behind a line of three attacking midfielders, and this formation and its tactics are covered in detail in other recent World Soccer Source articles.

This formation is somewhat similar to what Felipão used during the Confederations Cup.

Klinsmann is well-aware of how Brazil plays and surely studied their tactics during the Confederations Cup closely, but looking at how Brazil played and why it worked is something that Americans and non-Americans might be wise to do.

This Brazilian midfield formation outlined above is something that Klinsmann has used with the USMNT, but many of Klinsmann’s right and left midfielders in World Cup qualifiers have been players who are either married to the sideline or just looking to play crosses or both.

Klinsmann has used Geoff Cameron as a midfield destroyer with Michael Bradley as a box-to-box midfielder, and in Gold Cup games without Bradley or Cameron, Klinsmann has used Joe Benny Corona as a playmaker flanked by attacking midfielders on the right and left with a striker up top.

The system that Brazil used is a perfect example for the USMNT to study and implement, even if it isn’t as good as the Brazilian version.

Certainly, the USMNT can use a similar set-up to Brazil, which other national teams and clubs also use, even if the overall skill level of all the players is nowhere near Brazil’s.

Tactically, the balance of that Brazilian squad was perfect.

The team was difficult to beat with speed or skill down the middle, and the flanks were patrolled by outside backs, who posed a two-way threat.

Additionally, when the outside backs attacked, the defensive midfielders dropped back to fill the hole left by the outside backs.

Finally, with a playmaker like Oscar combining with Neymar, Hulk, and Fred, the attacking threat was too much for Spain who were humiliated by Brazil in the Confederations Cup Final.

For all the stereotypes of Brazil not defending, Brazil’s 2013 Confederations Cup squad showed not only good team defense through pressing, but they also displayed outstanding individual defenders in the line of two defensive midfielders and in the defensive back four.

This system is essentially what Jürgen Klinsmann is trying to implement with the United States Men’s National Team, and frankly some of his player selections do not seem to have the physical gifts and skills to fulfill their required roles.

To Klinsmann’s credit, in the Gold Cup, he did use a formation that was similar to Brazil’s, but now it’s time to put the higher-level players together in a balanced starting line-up.

The USMNT hasn’t yet used outside backs or center backs like Brazil uses, and given how obvious it is to start Geoff Cameron, Michael Bradley, Landon Donovan, Joe Benny Corona, Clint Dempsey, and Jozy Altidore as the Front Six, Klinsmann will have to start using faster and more skilled center backs who are flanked by modern outside backs who pose an attacking threat and who defend out wide.

While Brazil uses Daniel Alves at right back and Marcelo at left back, Jürgen Klinsmann refuses to use any of the new MLS outside backs like Chris Klute, DeAndre Yedlin, or Andrew Farrell who at least attempt to play with the same aggressive attacking style down the sideline and who can defend skillful and quick attackers.

At center back, Klinsmann has never fielded two players who combine athleticism, technical ability, and the defensive skills of quick, strong, and talented defensive midfielders like Geoff Cameron.

The Brazilian way is one way for the United States to start improving its level of play, but Jürgen Klinsmann will have to field the players with the right tools because the Brazilian way is rooted in having technically-gifted players at every position, even the most defensive positions.

 

Best U.S. Soccer Players (August 2013)

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Clint Dempsey (left) and Jozy Altidore (right). (Photo: AP)
Clint Dempsey (left) and Jozy Altidore (right). (Photo: AP)

 

WORLD SOCCER SOURCE’S NEWEST LIST OF THE BEST AMERICAN SOCCER PLAYERS RIGHT NOW:

 

THE BEST AMERICAN SOCCER PLAYERS (AUGUST 2013)

 

1.) Clint DEMPSEY

2.) Michael BRADLEY

3.) Jozy ALTIDORE

4.) Landon DONOVAN

5.) Geoff CAMERON

 

6.) Tim HOWARD

7.) Jermaine JONES

8.) Joe Benny CORONA

9.) Benny FEILHABER

10.) Freddy ADU 

 

11.) Benji JOYA

12.) Mix DISKERUD

13.) Stuart HOLDEN

14.)  Juan AGUDELO 

15.) Terrence BOYD

 

16.) Eddie JOHNSON

17.) Chris KLUTE

18.) DeAndre YEDLIN

19.) Brek SHEA

20.) Andrew FARRELL

 

21.) Shane O’NEILL

22.) Jonathan SPECTOR

23.) Perry KITCHEN

24.) Joe GYAU

25.) Tony TAYLOR

 

26.) Mario RODRIGUEZ

27.) José VILLARREAL

28.) Alonso HERNANDEZ

29.) Gale AGBOSSOUMONDE

30.) Maurice EDU

 

31.) Brad GUZAN

32.) Michael OROZCO FISCAL

33.) Kofi SARKODIE

34.) Eric LICHAJ

35.) Paul ARRIOLA 

 

36.) Teal BUNBURY

37.) Lamar NEAGLE

38.) Quincy AMARIKWA

39.) George JOHN

40.) Amobi OKUGO

 

Joe Benny Corona, Goal-Scoring Playmaker

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JOE BENNY CORONA (6). (Photo: Steve Conner/Icon SMI)
JOE BENNY CORONA (6). (Photo: Steve Conner/Icon SMI)

 

Joe Benny Corona’s position is misunderstood by the American soccer media.

Whether Corona is lining up out left, out right, or in the center, there is so much movement off the ball that his position is really just a position put on paper or on a diagram for the purpose of simplifying the line-up for readers or TV viewers to see.

American soccer writers often describe Corona as a winger because he has been started out right on paper for some of the USMNT’s Gold Cup games, but a winger is really a player who uses speed out wide to storm down the sideline to play crosses in or to cut inside toward the penalty box to shoot or pass.

The way Corona plays is like how many skilled attacking players play: pass and move with one to two touches.

Corona is really a goal-scoring playmaker that can line-up anywhere in the attack except as a first-striker.

In Spanish, Joe Benny Corona’s playmaking position is called an enganche, which means “hitch” or “hook,” and this position is responsible for hooking or linking the midfield to the striker or strikers.

An enganche is really just a playmaker, as opposed to specifically meaning a goal-scoring playmaker.

When Corona lines up out right, he isn’t really playing as a winger as he is moving all over the field with the ebb and flow of the game, and the role of running the sidelines is really the responsibility of the outside backs who should overlap Corona when he is playing out right or left.

When these overlapping runs come, Corona’s role is to move toward the center of the field to allow the outside back to receive a wall pass back from Corona, which Corona would play down the sideline into the path of the outside back.

Some American soccer writers can continue to contend that Corona is playing as a winger, but Klinsmann knows that Corona isn’t really playing as a winger even if he says Corona is playing out on the wing. This is merely a convenient way of saying that Corona is lining up out right to allow Mix Diskerud or Stuart Holden to play more in the center during the Gold Cup.

Corona is really playing as a mezz’ala, which is a well-known position for fans of Italian soccer.

There isn’t really a name for mezz’ala in English, which is the position name in Italian that Clarence Seedorf played out wide in a line of three attacking midfielders at Milan. Whereas, the trequartista is in the center behind the strikers, the mezz’ala is really a midfielder playing out left or right that isn’t an out-and-out winger.

Additionally, Andrés Iniesta has often played this position for Barcelona in Spain, but the name of the position of course isn’t referred to by its Italian name. Barcelona sometimes uses Cesc Fàbregas, Xavi, and Andrés Iniesta as a line of three attacking midfielders with Sergio Busquets behind them, and the position that Fàbregas and Iniesta play in that set-up is really what Corona is playing when he is out left or right.

This absence of a good name for attacking midfielders out wide who aren’t wingers is the crux of the problem that causes many USMNT fans and writers some confusion. The confusion is what to call Corona’s position.

The name isn’t really that important, as the important thing is the way that Corona improves the U.S.’ passing as well as linking the midfield to the strikers.

Wherever Corona, Diskerud, and Holden are playing, they are passing and moving all over the field, but in this Gold Cup, Diskerud and Holden have been tasked with the role of playing more as box-to-box midfielders (where Michael Bradley usually plays) to either partner with Kyle Beckerman or to start together to share Beckerman’s defensive duties.

Joe Benny Corona is needed to link the midfield to the attack, no matter who is starting deeper in the midfield.

With Corona on the field in the upcoming game against El Salvador, the USMNT has a player who can connect some combination of Beckerman, Holden, and Diskerud to Landon Donovan and Eddie Johnson, but it should be noted that Diskerud and Holden are really more attacking midfielders than box-to-box midfielders.

For the USMNT’s purposes in the Gold Cup , Corona has to start because he fulfills a goal-scoring playmaking role that Diskerud and Holden aren’t being tasked with playing in this tournament.

Corona shouldn’t be thought of as a player who is down the pecking order from Holden, but Corona should be thought of as a creative attacking midfielder with a unique playmaking skill-set (superior to Stuart Holden’s) that this United States’ Gold Cup roster (and the World Cup qualifying roster) needs to play up to its full potential.

After the Gold Cup, Joe Benny Corona should play a bigger role with the full national team where he can help to improve the passing, the attacking, and the amount and quality of final balls. To top it off, Corona knows how to score as well.

 

 

 

Freddy Adu Article From Bahia Notícias

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Freddy Adu (Source: Esporte Clube Bahia)
Freddy Adu (Source: Esporte Clube Bahia)

 

Felipe Santana ( @ffelipesantana ) of Bahia Notícias wrote an article about Freddy Adu entitled, “Questionado, Cristóvão elogia e promete dar chances para Freddy Adu” (Questioned, Cristóvão Praises and Promises to Give Freddy Adu Opportunities) where he included a quote from Adu’s coach at Bahia, Cristóvão Borges, who appeared on the Brazilian show “Bate-bola,” which is on ESPN Brasil.

“Bate-bola” has a double meaning because it means “Q & A” but it is also the warm-up drill where players play one-touch passes, back and forth.

 

Below is the link to the original article by Felipe Santana of Bahia Notícias:

 

http://www.bahianoticias.com.br/esportes/bahia/8396-questionado-cristovao-elogia-e-promete-dar-chances-para-freddy-adu.html

 

The text from the original article, “Questionado, Cristóvão elogia e promete dar chances para Freddy Adu,” is in bold and World Soccer Source’s (Colin Reese’s) translation is in italics.

 

São quase quatro meses de moradia no Brasil. Tempo suficiente para ganhar o carinho de companheiros, funcionários do clube e até a falar português. O tempo, no entanto, não foi suficiente para uma possível análise do seu desempenho dentro de campo. Estamos falando de Freddy Adu.

 

It has been almost four months of living in Brazil. Enough time to win the affection of his teammates, employees of the club, and even to speak Portuguese. The time, all in all, wasn’t enough (to make) an evaluation of his performance on the field possible. We’re talking about Freddy Adu.

 

No Bahia desde o final do mês de março, quando foi envolvido em uma troca com o volante Kléberson, o norte-americano desembarcou em Salvador e automaticamente despertou a curiosidade de todos sobre o seu atual momento técnico. Até porque, quando revelado para o futebol nos Estados Unidos, foi comparado ao rei Pelé.

 

At Bahia since the end of the month of March, when he was involved in a trade for the defensive midfielder, Kléberson, the American got off (the plane) in Salvador and immediately aroused the curiosity of everyone about his actual technical skill-level. Even more so because when he was unveiled to the American soccer (community), he was compared to Pele the King.

 

Adu passou por um período de adaptação ao futebol brasileiro e, mesmo depois disso, não teve chances. No Campeonato Baiano, o meia participou de apenas três partidas, sempre como opção para o decorrer do jogo. Pouco tempo.

 

Adu went through a period of adaptation to Brazilian soccer, and even after this, he didn’t get opportunities. In the Bahia state championship (Baianão/Campeonato Baiano), the attacking midfielder participated in just three games, always as an option to run out the game clock. Little time.

 

Cristóvão Borges chegou, mudou o comportamento da equipe, mas a situação do norte-americano segue a mesma. Quase sempre relacionado, o meia participou apenas dos minutos finais da estreia tricolor na Série A.

 

Cristóvão Borges arrived, changed the behavior/(direction) of the team, but the American’s situation continued just like it was. Almost always put on the roster, the attacking midfielder participated in just the final two minutes of a game in Bahia’s Brasileirão campaign.

 

O treinador do Bahia, ao ser questionado sobre as poucas oportunidades ao atleta, elogiou Freddy Adu. Em compensação, atribuiu o status de reservas ao alto nível de concorrência, segundo ele.

 

The coach of Bahia, upon being asked about the limited opportunities (given) to the player, praised Freddy Adu. On the other hand, he attributed his (Adu’s) position as a substitute to the high level of competition (amongst the squad), according to him (Borges).

 

“Tem muitas qualidades. Tecnicamente é muito bom e acho que pelo tempo que ele passou nos Estados Unidos, tem um entendimento tático do jogo excelente. Lá no Bahia tem uma concorrência muito grande, a briga para jogar é muito boa” – disse em entrevista ao canal ESPN Brasil.

 

“He has many qualities/skills. Technically, he’s very good and I think that due to the time he spent in the U.S., he has an excellent tactical understanding of the game. On Bahia’s roster, there is lots of competition, the fight for playing time is very good” – he said in an interview with ESPN Brasil.

 

Below is the link to another Cristóvão Borges interview with ESPN where he discusses Bahia:

 

http://www.espn.com.br/noticia/341937_a-la-guardiola-cristovao-se-apoia-em-grupo-de-estudos-para-aperfeicoar-o-ousado-bahia

 

There is an interesting quote from the ESPN interview mentioned above which can be found below:

 

Vendo o banco de reservas, apareceu o nome de Freddy Adu. Como é ter um nome conhecido como ele e como está sendo a adaptação dele ao Bahia?
Tem que sentir respeito. Não é só ele, tem Obina, Souza, outros ídolos da torcida, e o tratamento é de respeito. Tem que aproveitar a oportunidade, todos estão tendo chances. Todos precisam ficar bem, por isso estimulo a disputa. Freddy Adu parece brasileiro. Ele está muito à vontade, à vontade até demais. Ele tem boa técnica, muita disciplina tática – o que vem da escola dos Estados Unidos.

 

Translation:

 

Coming to the substitutes, the name Freddy Adu comes up. What is it like to have a known name like his and how has his adjustment to Bahia been?

 

You have to feel proud of him. Not just him, but Obina, Souza, and other fan favorites, and the treatment is of respect. He has to take advantage of his chance, all of them are getting chances. All of them need to keep doing well, because of this I foster the contest (for playing time). Freddy Adu looks Brazilian. He is very loose, almost too loose. He has good technique, good tactical discipline, which comes from the American school (of playing).

 

 

**Special Thanks to Ivan Dias Marques of Correio in Salvador who brought Felipe Santana’s article to my attention. Follow Ivan Dias Marques on Twitter: @ivandmarques

 

**ALL TRANSLATION MISTAKES ARE MY OWN

 

Freddy Adu Interview with Correio

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Freddy Adu sat down for an interview with Miro Palma of Correio in Salvador, Brazil.(Photo: Robson Mendes/Correio)
Freddy Adu sat down for an interview with Miro Palma of Correio in Salvador, Brazil. (Photo: Robson Mendes/Correio)

 

Freddy Adu recently did an interview with Miro Palma of CORREIO in Salvador where they discussed a variety of topics. Below is the translation of the interview.

 

Translation of Freddy Adu’s CORREIO interview with Miro Palma (Twitter: @miropalma):

 

*All translation done by Colin Reese. Any mistakes are my own.

 

http://www.correio24horas.com.br/esportes/detalhes/detalhes-1/artigo/freddy-adu-brinca-com-apelido-baiano-e-revela-gosto-de-oito7nove4/

 

Freddy Adu chegou ao Bahia cercado de expectativas e, mesmo após mais de três meses, o torcedor não pode fazer uma análise apurada do jogador de 24 anos. São só quatro partidas – todas elas entrando no 2º tempo, a poucos minutos do fim. Mesmo assim, o americano acredita que pode ser útil. No treino de ontem, marcou até um gol. Sempre alegre, tido pelos companheiros como o mais querido do elenco, ele projeta um futuro grandioso no Esquadrão. Em um bate-papo descontraído com o CORREIO, onde respondeu todas as perguntas em português, Adu falou sobre tudo. Confira!”

 

Freddy Adu came to Bahia surrounded by expectations, and even after more than three months, the fans can’t make a reasoned assessment of the 24 year old player. There are only four games, all of them (with him) coming on in the second half, just a few minutes from the end (of the game). Despite this, the American thinks he can be useful. At yesterday’s practice, he even scored a goal. Always happy, considered by his teammates as the most liked (player) on the roster, he sees a bright future ahead of him with the Esquadrão. In a casual chat with CORREIO, where he answered all of the questions in Portuguese, Adu talked about everything. Check it out!

 

Que achou da Copa das Confederações? E do Brasil?


Gosto muito do futebol brasileiro. Quando a Seleção Brasileira joga, sempre assisto, pois eu gosto de jogo bonito. O Brasil ganhou contra a Espanha e todo mundo fala: ‘pô, o Brasil voltou’. Futebol é a minha vida. Gosto muito de acompanhar todos os jogos e quero ficar aqui no próximo ano, jogando no Bahia.

 

What did you think of the Confederations Cup? And of Brazil?

I like Brazilian soccer a lot. Whenever the Seleção plays, I always watch, since I like jogo bonito. Brazil beat Spain, and everyone said, “Fu.., Brazil is back.” Soccer is my life. I really like to keep up with all of the games, and I want to stay here next year playing for Bahia.

 

E Neymar?


Joga muito (Risos). Foi o melhor jogador da Copa das Confederações e acho que vai se sair muito bem no Barcelona. Ele é muito importante para a Seleção Brasileira, faz coisas diferentes.

 

And Neymar?

He can really play (laughs). He was the best player in the Confederations Cup and I think he’s going to turn out really well at Barcelona. He is really important for the Seleção, he does unique things.

 

Você espera jogar mais no segundo semestre?


Sim, sim, sim. Só espero a minha chance. Tenho que trabalhar e, quando tiver a chance, mostrar que mereço. Mas se o treinador acha que o outro jogador pode ajudar mais, está tudo bem. Meu trabalho é vir aqui e, quando tiver chance, ajudar o time.

 

Do you hope to play more in the second half of the season?

-Yes, yes, yes. I’m just waiting for my chance. I have to work and when I have the chance, show that I deserve it. But if the coach thinks that another player can help more, that’s ok. My job is to come here, and when I have the chance, help the team.

 

Porque acha que ainda não teve uma sequência?


Mudou muito de treinador. Quando o novo (Joel) chegou, não me conhecia muito bem. Por isso tem que mostrar sempre que é bom jogador.

 

Why do you think you haven’t had a good sequence (of games)?

The coaches changed a lot. When the new one (Joel Santana) came, he didn’t know me very well. Because of that, you have to show that you’re a good player.

 

O que acha de Salvador? 

Gosto muito de ir pra praia. Tenho companheiros que são ótimas pessoas. Ryder, Douglas Pires, Rafael Donato, que moram perto de mim. Sempre vou pra casa deles, fazemos um churrasco, na área de Praia do Flamengo.

 

What do you think of Salvador?

I really like going to the beach. I have teammates who are really nice people. Ryder, Douglas, Rafael Donato, who live close to me. I always go over to their houses, and we have BBQs in the area around Praia do Flamengo.

 

Muita gente no clube diz que você é quase um baiano…


(Gargalhadas) A adaptação foi rápida. Eu gosto muito da cultura do Brasil. A vida não é longa e temos que aproveitar. Tenho um bom trabalho e posso ajudar minha família. Por isso estou sempre feliz.

 

Lots of people at the club say that you’re practically Baiano…

(Laughing) The adjustment was fast. I really like Brazilian culture. Life is short, and we have to take advantage of it. I have a good job, and I can help my family. Because of that, I’m always happy.

 

Sua família conhece a cidade?


Eles estão nos EUA, mas vou trazer eles aqui. Minha mãe e meu irmão vem em agosto.

 

Has your family even been to the city (Salvador)?

They’re in the U.S., but I’m going to bring them here. My mom and my brother are coming in August.

 

E em relação à música daqui. Gosta de escutar?


Gosto de Oito7nove4. É assim: ‘Dá um abraço, dá o outro, faça o movimento…’ (canta). Eu gosto muito dessa! Essa música é fera pra mim. Mas eu gosto mais de hip-hop, porque é a minha cultura nos Estados Unidos.

 

About the music here, do you like listening to it?

I like Oito7nove4. It goes likes this, “Dá um abraço, dá o outro, faça o movimento…” (singing). I like that one a lot! That song is fire to me, but I like hip-hop more because it’s my culture in the United States.

 

Qual o seu maior sonho?

Hum… Quero jogar na Copa. Jogar na Liga dos Campeões da Europa. Por isso eu assinei com o Bahia. Quando você joga bem aqui, todos os times do mundo querem você.

 

What’s your biggest dream?

Um… I want to play in the World Cup. Play in the Champions League. Because of that I signed with Bahia. When you play well here (in Brazil), every team in the world wants you.

 

Dá pra voltar à seleção?


Claro que sim. Já falei com o treinador e ele disse que eu tinha que jogar na liga mais forte. Se tinha a oportunidade de jogar no Brasil… Porra, tinha que jogar aqui. Tem tudo aqui agora: Copa do Mundo, Jogos Olímpicos. O Brasil está muito forte e os clubes estão com mais dinheiro. Todo mundo quer jogar aqui.

 

It is possible to return to the national team?

Of course it is. I already talked to the coach, and he told me that I had to play in a better league. If I had the opportunity to play in Brazil…F***/S***, I had to play here. Everything is here right now: The World Cup, the Olympics. Brazil is really strong, and the clubs have more money. Everyone wants to play here.

 

Quem é Freddy Adu?


Como jogador, Freddy Adu é um cara que joga bonito, joga feliz. Como pessoa, também. Sempre feliz.

 

Who is Freddy Adu?

As a player, Freddy Adu is a guy that plays with flair, that plays happy. As a person, also. (I’m) always happy.

 

Seu português está ótimo. Soube que você faz umas gracinhas com os jogadores…


Que nada. Meu português está fraco. Gracinhas é mais fácil. Gosto muito dos meus companheiros de time. Sempre todo mundo brincando. É como uma família, é bom. Meu antigo time não tinha isso. Tinham vários grupos. Aqui todo mundo está junto.

 

Your Portuguese is great. I knew that you joked around with the players…

Not at all. My Portuguese is weak. Jokes are easier. I really like my teammates. Everyone is always joking around. It’s like a family, and that’s good. My old team wasn’t like that. There were different cliques. Everyone is together here.

 

Seria o jeito brasileiro?


É isso… Quando eu saio de casa todo mundo brinca. Aê Freddy Adivis! E aí Freddy Adivis? É bom demais.

 

Could it be that that’s the Brazilian way?

That’s it…when I leave my house everyone is joking around. “Yo, Freddy Adivis! What’s up Freddy Adivis? It’s really great.

 

http://www.correio24horas.com.br/esportes/detalhes/detalhes-1/artigo/freddy-adu-brinca-com-apelido-baiano-e-revela-gosto-de-oito7nove4/

 

*All translation done by Colin Reese. Any mistakes are my own.

 

 

NEYMAR IS KING. BRAZIL DESTROYS SPAIN

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Neymar's left-footed golaço past Iker Casillas. (Photo: AP Photo)
Neymar’s left-footed golaço past Iker Casillas. (Photo: AP Photo)

 

Neymar’s Triumph. Neymar’s Glory.

In a grudge match between Brazil and Spain with the Confederations Cup trophy on the line, Brazil was out to show the world that Brazil plays the best soccer in the world and that Spain is only a poor imitation of Brazilian soccer.

Brazil destroyed and demoralized Spain in a 3-0 goleada that put the world on notice.

Brazilians like Luiz Gustavo, Paulinho, and basically the entire Seleção set the tone from the initial whistle with ferocious tackling, intense pressing, and an outstanding amount of running that totally disoriented and dazed Spain like an Anderson Silva front kick to the face.

Brazil came out to play with so much intensity that Spain was engulfed and devastated from the opening kickoff.

The approach of the Seleção wasn’t purely psychological and physical intimidation, but rather Brazil brought its historic magic, guile, and trickery that had been missing from the Brazilian national team for several years until the beginning of the Confederations Cup.

Whether it was fueled by huge public protest about inadequate public services and infrastructure in Brazil or a growing sense of rage at the glorification of the style of soccer played by Barcelona and the Spanish national team, something motivated the Brazilians to deliver a level of overall intensity and collective group play that has almost never been seen out of Brazil.

Certainly several years ago, the Seleção displayed a degree of artistry and skill that made fans the world over want to watch Brazil play, but recently the Brazilian national team didn’t show the exciting and creative style of play that captivated audiences and made Brazil the pinnacle of world football.

Spain really was metaphorically body slammed and drop kicked out of Maracanã by the feared yellow jerseys of Brazil, and the emotional state of the Seleção totally disrupted the way Spain liked to play. While Brazil was very aggressive in its tackling, very few tackles were dirty or overly rough.

Brazil played like they really resented all of the praise that Spain has received for their smooth and graceful passing, which Brazilians fell like is a style of soccer that was invented in Brazil decades before Barcelona or Spain starting playing that way.

While Neymar was fantastic in his passing, his movement of the ball, and his overall display of talent, his left-footed golaço scored on Iker Casillas was particularly ruthless.

Without any hesitation, Neymar flamethrowered a left-footed shot at Casillas’ face, which went right over Casillas’ head due to the fact that the shot had to have looked like a blurr to Casillas.

Neymar’s left-footed golaço sent a message around the world like his other goals in the tournament have done, and this particular goal said “Even if you cover the near post, I can still crush a left-footed shot right at your head, and you still won’t have a chance.”

It was a sensational goal that should silence critics.

Spain enjoyed more possession, but it didn’t appear that way when one was watching the game as Brazil was constantly winning the ball back, darting toward the Spanish goal, and stringing together one-touch passes.

In a way, Spain and its players were not even a storyline, as their play was totally eclipsed by the attacking and defensive intensity that hit Spain like a tidal wave for the entire 90 minutes, and any chances Spain had were either rejected by diving saves from Brazil’s goalkeeper, Julio Cesar, or on one occasion a seemingly impossible sliding clearance that David Luiz somehow managed to clear over his own goal, despite making his interception on his own goal line.

Brazil almost bullied Spain, and any fouls on Neymar or any other Brazilian player were met with severe warnings from the rest of the Seleção, as they often surrounded and intimidated players from the Spanish national team.

The Brazilian weren’t violent or dirty, but they did seek to psychologically intimidate Spanish players like Sergio Busquets, Álvaro Arbeloa, and Gerard Piqué.

Spain was devasted by the Seleção in a true goleada that seemed to signal the return of Brazilian soccer to the top of world soccer.

While Spain has its passing and possession, every Brazilian national team player is equally or more capable of passing the ball like Spain, but the Brazilians have the additional element of superior individual skill on the ball, which can embarrass opponents in 1v1 situations.

Brazilian soccer is back, and Neymar has announced to the world that just might be the king of world soccer, and the player par excellence.

The Canarinho won as a team, and Brazil under Felipão has displayed that it has elite players at every position who can devastate opponents with inspired collective play and individual brilliance.

Today, Brazil played with a fire that burned on the inside, and Brazil will have to learn how to demonstrate close to or the same level of intensity in future games, as opposed to not being active enough without the ball.

This Brazil-Spain matchup was one of the most exciting soccer games seen in a long time, and Italy, Spain, Brazil, and Germany are all displaying a very high level of play that should make for competitive and exciting games before and during the World Cup.

France has a new crop of young players who may prove to be a force to be reckoned with, but Brazil showed that they have the capacity to thoroughly embarrass Spain. Now, Germany is the next team that Brazil has to prove itself against.

Anyone who doubted Brazil or Neymar should take a good, hard look at the passing, scoring, and overall skill that Neymar showed in this tournament against elite competition, and Brazil’s doubters should look at how skilled, complete, and deep Brazil is at every position.

Futebol arte is back, and Neymar is its king.

 

FIFA MATCH REPORT:

 

http://www.fifa.com/confederationscup/matches/round=255211/match=300222461/summary.html

 

GLOBO ESPORTE MATCH REPORT:

 

http://globoesporte.globo.com/jogo/copa-confederacoes-2013/30-06-2013/brasil-espanha.html

 

MARCA COVERAGE (SPANISH AND ENGLISH VERSIONS):

 

http://www.marca.com/eventos/marcador/futbol/2013/copa_confederaciones/final/bra_spa/

 

http://www.marca.com/2013/06/30/en/football/national_teams/1372577474.html

 

 

Balotelli vs. Neymar: Italy 2-4 Brazil

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Brazil was far more dangerous in the attack, but any look back at Italy’s two to four loss to Brazil has to be prefaced with the caveat that Daniele De Rossi and Andre Pirlo were unavailable to play and that Paulinho was being rested by Brazil to let his ankle recover.

 

Brazil deserved to win, and particularly Neymar’s third goal in three games was a free-kick golaço that had nothing to do with Italy’s line-up and everything to do with Neymar’s steady string of big performances on the world stage.

 

It’s worth repeating that Brazil too was a missing a vital player in its midfield: Paulinho. As one of the world’s best box-to-box midfielders and Luiz Gustavo’s partner in the defensive section of the midfield, Brazil was without one of its key ball winners and main protagonists in the midfield, and yet still Brazil won.

 

If Italy was missing De Rossi and Pirlo, then it’s fair to note that without Ramires even on the roster as a replacement for Paulinho, Brazil was itself missing half of what Italy was missing.

 

Both Italy and Brazil were without at least one major midfield piece, and this affected how Italy and Brazil played.

 

Without Pirlo and De Rossi, Mario Balotelli lacked two of the players who are most responsible for either ensuring that Italy has a strong percentage of the possession or providing Balotelli with final balls or at the very least, a steady stream of service.

 

Gigi Buffon was blamed for two of Brazil’s goals as he blocked two of Brazil’s shots as opposed to catching them, and given his skill level, perhaps blocking them was all he was able to do, despite what the commentators said.

 

One of Buffon’s blocks was purposely played away from the goalmouth but Brazil’s central defender, Dante, a native of Salvador where the game was played, pounced on the rebound and was in ecstasy as he scored in the Arena Fonte Nova, home of the team that he has been a fan of since childhood, Bahia.

 

Even without Pirlo and De Rossi, Italy was totally guilty of conceding the third goal to Brazil when Fred outmuscled the much stronger Giorgio Chiellini in the penalty box to roof a left-footed shot into the upper 90 on the left side of the goal.

 

In many ways, Brazil scored two legitimate goals, and Italy only scored one.

 

With a possible offside on Brazil’s first goal, a Neymar golaço on the second goal, a well-deserved goal by Fred on the third goal, and a mishandled shot by Buffon on the fourth goal, Brazil scored two totally legitimate goals compared to Italy’s one legitimate goal scored by Emanuele Giaccherini off a balletic backwards flicked assist by Balotelli.

 

Neymar versus Balotelli and Italy versus Brazil in this first Confederations Cup encounter doesn’t tell the whole story.

 

Even without De Rossi and Pirlo, Brazil deserved to win, but in the duel of Neymar versus Balotelli is far from over.

 

Neymar stole the headlines with his free kick golaço, but Balotelli’s backwards volleyed assist to Giaccherini was outrageously brazen. Neymar won, but Brazil almost had to resort to wrestling and kicking Balotelli to stop him.

 

The Confederations Cup isn’t over, and Balotelli and Neymar offer the world the chance to perhaps see the world’s most talented second striker (Neymar) and the world’s most talented first-striker (Balotelli) face off against each other again in this tournament.

 

Balotelli has learned how to keep his cool, and Neymar has learned how to body check and get more physical with opponents, in the hopes of deterring them from fouling him too much.

 

This new physicality was new from Neymar, and perhaps it brings him one step closer from being immune to comments from doubters who say he doesn’t have the physicality to play in Europe.

 

Neymar unfortunately hurt Ignazio Abate with his body check, but it was time for Neymar to start knocking people off him.

 

Some observers like to dismiss the absence of certain key players as the reason for a win by the other team, and other observers view the absence of key players as a valid and important piece of analysis.

 

Neymar and Balotelli both performed, and Italy and Brazil both advanced out of the group stage.

 

The battle between Balotelli and Neymar continues, and the additional subplot of seeing how Neymar and Balotelli compare to Spain loams on the horizon.

 

Balotelli and Neymar are coming for Messi, and Brazil and Italy are both coming for Spain…and Germany.

Neymar Silences His Critics Again

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Neymar scores a golaço again. (Foto: Jefferson Bernardes / Vipcomm)
Neymar scores a golaço again. (Foto: Jefferson Bernardes / Vipcomm)

 

Two Confederations Cup games and two volleyed golaços from Neymar.

 

Even more spectacular than Neymar’s left-footed volleyed goal was the display of 1v2 dribbling through the Mexican defense to the left of the goal along the endline.

 

Neymar beat two Mexican defenders with an outrageous nutmeg that one rarely sees executed against international caliber defenders like Mexico’s, and this audacious display of skill allowed Neymar to break through the defense and assist Jô for Brazil’s second goal.

 

Neymar is often labeled a diver or a showman or both, but once again, Neymar showed how his magic and trickery are effective at producing results.

 

Commentators, writers, and fans frequently question how Neymar will be able to perform in Europe, as if Brazil isn’t a competitive soccer environment, but Neymar has shown two games in a row in a major FIFA tournament, the Confederations Cup, how he is able to play at the same level in international tournaments as he has played in Brazil.

 

There were a variety of riveting highlights and tricks from Neymar in Brazil’s win over Mexico, but Neymar was also the author of the first goal and the assist on the second goal.

 

With his crucial involvement in the victory over Mexico and just like his role in the win over Japan before, Neymar cannot continue to be labeled as merely a YouTube sensation or an unproven player who hasn’t proven himself against strong competition.

 

With the eyes of the world watching him in a major international tournament, Neymar was effective and electrifying again.