Neymar celebrates

By FOS Editor
March 27 2011

Brazil gave Scotland a football lesson in this International friendly at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium this afternoon, running out two nil winners

Scotland started brightly in the North London sunshine but without ever looking like getting behind the Brazilians or looking like scoring. The first real goal threat came half way through the half and it was for the Brazilians.

Leandro Damiao rose highest at a corner kick only to see his header clip the top of the crossbar and bounce over. Six minutes later we were under the cosh again and were lucky to survive a penalty shout.

Lucas got in behind the Scotland defence and smashed a cross into the six yard box where it was first knocked into the air by McGregor and then on to the arm of Caldwell which knocked the ball out for a corner. But ref Webb either didn’t see the offence or decided it was unintentional.

Just as it looked as though we would make it to half time on level terms we were torn apart once again. The impressive 19 year old Neymar collected a cross from Santos before steering a shot low past McGregor. This was the lead that Brazil thoroughly deserved given their total domination of the half.

Early in the second half McArthur gave the ball away at the edge of the box but he was bailed out by his keeper Alan McGregor who palmed away from the waiting Neymar. Leandro Damiao came close again on the hour mark when he found plenty of space at the front post but could only steer his header wide.

Brazil have shown us more than Samba soccer at this stage they have combined this with a desire to press the ball high up the pitch and win it back as quickly as possible. This is very similar to the way Barcelona play at the moment, and maybe is the one lesson all Scottish sides need to learn.

With Bannan and Commons on for McArthur and Whittaker Scotland got further up the pitch. Twenty minutes after the break Adam goes on a driving run from midfield and sees a rare shooting opportunity open in front of him but sadly for the Blackpool man he blasts miles over from 20 yards out.

The game was effectively sealed when Adam tripped Neymar in the box with 14 minutes left, and the youngster stepped up to take the penalty kick himself. He put the ball to the keeper’s right as McGregor decided to go to his left.

There was no disgrace in losing to this Brazil side, and was definitely a worthwhile exercise in both financial and PR terms but also on the field ahead of crucial qualifiers.