World Cup warm up: Brazil looking to take attacking game to the next level

After Saturday’s exciting match ups, Sunday’s games felt a bit of a damp squib. However, Monday’s early meeting between Brazil and Mexico promises to live up to the billing. The Selecao are boiling to the surface nicely after a stuttering start to Russia 2018, which saw them draw 1-1 draw Switzerland. Successive 2-0 wins over Costa Rica and Serbia, which were largely achieved without breaking into a serious sweat, meant they progressed as group winners, but they need to ward on the side of caution when they take on Mexico. 

As Germany found out the hard way, El Tri can be devastating on the counter attack, with the trio of Chicharito, Hirving Lozano and Carlos Vela wreaking havoc on unsuspecting defences. A 3-0 defeat to Sweden last week meant them forfeited top spot in Group F, while Germany’s 2-0 defeat to South Korea saw them scrape through, but they proved against the latter pair how effective they can be in the final third. 

With Brazil set to be without starting full-backs Danilo and Marcelo, Mexico will be confident of exploiting any space vacated by Fagner and Filipe Luis. Crucially, is that without Marcelo, Brazil are without one of their key attacking players. He, Neymar and Coutinho link up well down their left, but with Luis the more defensive minded of the two left-backs, there is space between the defence and midfield that Mexico can exploit. 

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While we’ll likely see Lozano start on the left, but Juan Carlos Osario may gift he and Vela the license to shift flanks and expose any space vacated by Brazil on their left. Mexico are a team that focuses their attacks down the flanks, with 38% and 36% of their attacks at the World Cup come down the left and right wings, respectively, and while they lost to Sweden, Osario is unlikely to make sweeping changes to his system and style, bar the absence of Hector Moreno at the back due to suspension. 

For Mexico’s offensive talent, though, Brazil have the means to put their North American counterparts to the sword through Coutinho, Neymar, Gabriel Jesus and Willian. The injury to Douglas Costa, who made a huge impact in the late win over Costa Rica, is a blow, but Tite has the offensive personnel to really hurt Mexico this afternoon. They haven’t hit top gear just yet, but they haven’t necessarily needed to take it to the next level to get to the last-16 stage of the World Cup. If they exceed expectations today, then a Moreno-less Mexico defence could feel the full wrath of this Brazil attack. 

Either way, today’s meeting Between Brazil and Mexico promises to be an exciting one.