Brazil Lack Cohesion in World Cup Scare Against Chile

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: June 28, 2014

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If Brazil carry on like this for much longer, cardiologists across the land will be raking in the profits. The Selecao's penalty shoot-out victory over Chile this afternoon was hard-fought, gritty and required the kind of mental toughness that carries successful sides forward in moments of adversity.

Much had been made prior to the game of the hosts' success over Chile in previous World Cups—including a 4-2 win in 1962 that took Brazil to the semi-final, a 4-1 second-round win in 1998 and a 3-0 win four years ago to the day at the same stage.

This Chile side, already responsible for bidding adios to Spain in group play, gave Brazil a real test. In fact, it was more than a test; it was a fright and, perhaps, even a wake-up call.

Brazil spent the second half in a state of suffocation, with their early pressure having been wiped out by an intuitive Alexis Sanchez strike. Only when Gonzalo Jara struck his penalty kick against the post could tens of millions breathe easy after a two-hour struggle.

Chile manager Jorge Sampaoli deserves all the plaudits currently flying in his direction. His team may not have been on the same technical level as their hosts, but Chile won the midfield battle during the second half and were inches from snatching the tie in the 120th minute, when Mauricio Pinilla saw his effort cannon back into play off the crossbar.

Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar, a player whose position between the sticks has not always sat easy with his fans, earned his moment of redemption. Saving efforts from both Pinilla and Alexis Sanchez in the shoot-out, the Toronto stopper showed why coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has stuck by his man.



The celebrations at the end were telling; players sat on the ground, drained from the physical effort of playing 120 minutes in brutal heat as well as the emotional turmoil a penalty shoot-out brings.

Luiz Felipe Scolari wal...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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