World Cup Match Thread- Quarter-Finals Day 1

[THFCSPURS19]

I don't think neymar's injury will hurt Brazil too much. I think they may even play better as a collective group without him.

I don't think Scolari is getting his tactics right, but I also think people are kind of ignoring the fact that they've come though a very tough group and then overcome two bloody tough teams. Previous successful Brazilian sides have had similar qualities, ie have actually been more about tenacity and determination than flair, with a smattering of talent.

People were criticising oscar last night, but he worked ducking hard off the ball. And when you are playing a dn good team, that's sometimes what you have go do, just find a way to win, which Brazil keep doing.

Oscar has been brilliant defensively- in fact, he has the HIGHEST amount of tackles of anyone in the competition. Attacking-wise, however, he has been dire IMO.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Well , I think you may be overrating Brazil there a tad BC . Remember it was the width of the bar that prevented a loss to Chile . That's called plain good luck to me .

I don't think this Brazilian team is as good as could be tactically, but I think some people tend to be dismissive because this team doesn't entertain as much as they feel a Brazilian team should. The fact is, it is not their job to entertain, it is their job to win and they are under more pressure than anyone to do that.

I would argue the fact that they are limiting very good teams to so few chances (such as long shots crashing off the bar) is one of their qualities. They are effectively playing to their strengths. There are no midfield play makers. They don't have a decent striker. But they do all work hard off the ball. They have come up against some of the tournaments better teams.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Oscar has been brilliant defensively- in fact, he has the HIGHEST amount of tackles of anyone in the competition. Attacking-wise, however, he has been dire IMO.

But it's incredibly hard to be brilliant at both aspects at the same time. The team keeps winning, partly because of his/others work off the ball, that is the bottom line right now.