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Brazil vs. England: Complete Preview for Maracana Showpiece Friendly
Published: May 30, 2013
For Roy Hodgson and his team, it is a particularly glamorous conclusion to the season before their summer break. For 2014 World Cup hosts Brazil, its significance is much more immediate.
The upcoming FIFA Confederations Cup is both practice for the country ahead of next year's major event, and a vital opportunity for (semi) competitive action for the national team itself.
That starts with England's visit to the Estadio do Maracana.
The two nations met at one of world football's other famous, recently renovated stadiums, in February. Wembley witnessed a disappointingly lackluster performance from its Brazilian visitors (not their only one of late).
England's 2-1 win deserves to be recognized as one of their more impressive outings of late. Just how impressive it was, though, probably depends on your assessment of the current state of A Seleção.
The rise to prominence of talented players such as Oscar, Neymar, Lucas and Thiago Silva, coupled with the increasing marginalization of aging stars like Kaka and Ronaldinho (both incidentally, not included in the squad for June's tournament), is evidence of a national set-up in transition.
Yet, is that coincidentally appropriate terminology just masking the underwhelming on-pitch action? The reappointment of Luiz Felipe Scolari (manager of the 2002 World Cup-winning squad) is not dispelling the notion that Brazil are desperately grasping for any semblance of past glories.
However, while there is certainly work to be done, concerns about Brazil's ability to win the World Cup are being exacerbated by the uniqueness of a tournament cycle sans qualifying.
Without the difficult, but reassuring monotony of home and away ties against regular continental foes, wider...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football
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