Brazil 0-0 Mexico: Five Talking Points

A heroic goalkeeping display from Mexican keeper Guilermo Ochoa meant that Brazil failed to score in the group stage of the World Cupfor the first time since 1978. Although neither side looked particularly like scoring, having had most of the ball, Brazil failed to do too much with it.Here are five major talking points from the game.

#1 Ochoa puts in a goalkeeping master class

Going into the World Cup, Miguel Herrera had a big decision to make. The decision to put Ochoa in goal was by no means a bad one, but the fact that he had just been relegated to Ligue 2 and was likely to be out of a club after the World Cup made some question Herrera’s thought process.

But after the game against Brazil, few would be questioning the manager’s faith in Ochoa, for the Mexican shot stopper singlehandedly helped his side claim a valuable point against Brazil. Whether it was his Gordon Banks-esque save from Neymar in the first half, or closing down Paulinho in a flash to stop a certain goal or a brilliant reflex save from a Thiago Silva header late on, Ochoa was unbeatable in goal.

Mexico came in with a plan of going away with a point and without Ochoa’s heroics in goal that would have been nigh on impossible.

#2 Brazil unable to break down a determined Mexico defence

Both Brazil and Mexico came into the game high on confidence. Both teams had won their opening encounters, but in differing fashion. While Mexico only won 1-0, they completely outclassed Cameroon and were unlucky to have two valid goals chalked off. Brazil on the other hand won a close game comfortably in the end thanks to the Neymar and Oscar show. This was supposed to be a clash between the Samba magic and the Mexican solidity.

In the end, it was a clash between a frustrated Brazil attack that rarely functioned as a cohesive unit and a Mexican defence that was strong, rigid and determined not to concede a goal. Apart from a couple of instances of Neymar magic, Brazil failed to create any clear cut chances at goal. Oscar was peripheral and Ramires, who was drafted in for the ineffective Hulk, was completely anonymous.

Even the arrival or Bernard and Willian did little to change their lack of firepower up front. If Brazil are to go deep into the tournament, they will have to come up with a better plan of breaking down a dogged defence than to just give it to Neymar and see what he does.

#3 Is this really Brazil?

If the opening game of the tournament wasn’t enough evidence, then this game certainly proved many naysayers right. This is by no means a vintage Brazil outfit. Unlike the Brazil teams of the last century or the early part of the millennium, this side doesn’t have many creative players who catch one’s eye.

Instead, it is a team filled with hard working players and a couple of creative geniuses in Neymar and Oscar on whose shoulders the onus of creativity rests. Instead of the usual free-flowing style the Selecao usually employ, Scolari has turned the side into a fully functional solid unit with a strong spine, but little creativity elsewhere.

Against Croatia, Neymar got two goals, but it was Oscar who ran the show. Unfortunately for Brazil, neither turned up against Mexico, and, as a result, the team struggled to create anything of note throughout the game.

#4 Mexicos long shot strategy failed to pay dividends

It is fair to say that one of Brazil’s big weakness is between the sticks. Julio Cesar has always been prone to an error or two during a game, even at the peak of his powers. Given that he is nowhere near that level now, it was understandable that Mexico decided to test him out. It was clear that Coach Herrera had decided to test Cesar’s reflexes and ability to handle shots from distance.

What was the game plan? Shoot at sight. No, I am not referring to a police order, but an order by the Mexican coach that forced his players to shoot from distance in the hope that they catch Cesar out. While practice does make a man perfect, on the evidence of their finishing against Brazil, it looks like Mexico will need a lot more practice.

None of their midfielders or forwards had their shooting boots on against Brazil and that was evident from the fact that they had their first shot on target in the 92nd minute. While Mexico’s game plan worked, their strategy of shooting from distance did not. They better work on their game plan before they face Croatia.

#5 A case of substance over style

Two games done and two clean sheets in the bag. Even in a tournament in which they weren’t supposed to uproot too many trees, Mexico have shown how being organised and clinical can do you so much good.

It is not just that they have kept two clean sheets, but the manner of their performance have been something to behold. Not only have they kept clean sheets, they have looked solid, disciplined and have defended in numbers whenever possible.

Ever since Scolari took over Brazil, the Selecao have veered away from their usual brand of free-flowing samba football to a more methodical, organised and clinical way of playing that relies on a couple of individuals to provide a piece of magic to win the game. When those individuals fail to turn up, like they did against Mexico, patience becomes the key word.

Unfortunately for Brazil they didn’t have that and it turned out to be a clash of the titans, almost literally, given the amount of physical challenges that came flying in. Both sides will need to add some style to their substance if they harbour any hopes of getting into the quarters or semis.