France 1 Brazil 3
Brazil were losing 1-0 in Paris after 41 minutes.
Two teams managed by Deschamps and Dunga, two skippers who were little generals, now coaching their countries
Raphael Varane had headed in a lovely Valbuena corner in 22 but it wasn’t a game with a lot of fluent attacking football.
The selection of Miranda, the tough Atletico Madrid centreback, was one point of interest.
Another was Roberto Firmino (23), who plays for Hoffenheim but has only scored 6 goals in 27 Bundesliga appearances this season.
After 30, Firmino hit a rocket shot that bounced in front of keeper Mandanda and squirted off him for a corner.
Willian hadn’t done much up to that point but then the Chelsea boys took the game over.
Felipe Luiz found Oscar on the left side, he switched the ball inside to Firmino, who passed the ball into the box through the legs of Varane to Oscar, who nutmegged Mandanga for 1-1 in 41 minutes.
As the move developed, a goal looked improbable but Brazil scored a stiletto goal with that sharp, direct move.
Then Willian played in Neymar, whose shot flew inside the near post for 1-2 in 57 minutes.
That was Neymar’s 43rd goal for Brazil in 61 Caps.
In 70, the unmarked Luis Gustavo of Bayern Munich headed Willian’s right wing corner for 1-3.
Giroud replaced Benzema in 83 but the game was over by then.
Monaco midfielder Kondogbia came on and looked very powerful and fast for a few minutes.
VERDICT: Looks as if playing for Chelsea has improved Willian and Oscar by making them more professional and consistent. They work very hard and don’t lose the ball.
Willian can look like a mere continuity player and that’s when he starts to annoy me because I think he has the skills to do more. But then he made two goals.
And continuity isn’t a bad thing in football. Possession is a form of waiting and, unfortunately, I’m too impatient to wait.
Overall, I was ambivalent about Brazil’s performance but winning France 3-1 in Paris is good. Not many teams do that.
We know that Dunga doesn’t play old-fashioned, risky attackingfootball.
Carlos Alberto taught European football and won USA 94 with shape and method and a few sharp goals by little Bebeto and little Romario.
And Dunga lifted that World Cup for him.
Dunga has now won seven out of seven games since he took over.
I’ll remember this game for Firmino nutmegging Varane with a pass to Oscar for the equaliser.
PS Morgan Schneiderlin made a superb covering tackle on Willian in the fifth minute. Top man.