Before today’s clash France and Brazil met five times in the history, but the South American team only managed to win once, back in 1985. The Seleção obviously targeted the victory today over a France team which is, right now, under reconstruction. Brazil coach Mano Menezes sent his best line-up from the first minute. Players like Julio Cesar, Thiago Silva, Robinho and Pato featured from the first minute too, showing Menezes means business. Blanc fielded his best team too, with the likes of Lloris, Sagna, Mexes, Gourcuff, Benzema and Malouda on the pitch as well.
The first half between the two teams was enjoyed by the crowd, but after several missed opportunities on each side, the teams went 0-0 at half-time. However, the turning point of the game was in the 40th minute when referee Wolfgang Stark sent Hernanes off for a horrible challenge. Benzema looked to control the ball with his chest, but was met by Hernanes’ high-legged-challenge and immediately fell to the ground. Though friendly games rules are more permissible, the German referee couldn’t avoid showing the red card to Lazio’s midfielder, as the challenge was something no one wants to see on the football field again.
The only goal of the game came after Jeremy Menez’s run and cross from the right-hand side of the pitch. Karim Benzema only had to tip the ball into the net from few yards and he did it without hesitation. France 1-0 Brazil and the South American team started to recall again their last encounters again Les Bleus. From a formation playing an attractive football, Brazil was narrowed down by a superb French midfield display and by the inferiority. The game ended 1-0 for the hosts and Brazil goes home with yet another loss in the bag against France, though they were coming in as favourites against Blanc’s team.
Argentina 2-1 Portugal
Foto Source: highlightgoals.com
The game hosted in South America was a showdown between the talented rivals Messi and Ronaldo. With both of them leading their teams to victories in La Liga, it’s always been a matter of who of them is the best. Most of the football fans around the world claim Messi is the best, but they forget that the Argentinian player has a superb midfield line-up to support him at Barcelona, while Ronaldo does not. Messi’s National Team performances are not even half as good as the displays he produces for Barcelona, while Ronaldo is most of the time constant. However, both of the players went on the pitch from the first minute and tried to impress with every touch of the ball.
The game was decided by a late-goal of Messi. He scored a penalty in the last minute of the game and brought a smile on every Argentinian fans’ face. Both teams had lots of opportunities to change the scoresheet throughout the game and it was Di Maria to score a 14th minute first goal. His Real Madrid teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo, scored only seven minutes later to level the game and as the play continued, both teams showed not only signs of willingness to win, but also of good attacking displays and poor finishing.
Striker Juan Manuel Martinez was taken down in the box in the last minutes of the game by defender Fabio Coentrao, and it was obviously Messi who took care if it. He cooly finished on the right-side of the goalkeeper to make it 2-1 and end the game. Messi was named Man of the Match and considered the “engine” of today’s Argentinian National Team which, on balance, deserved to win.
