itsbeautifuloutside

You had to feel for the Mexican players and fans bravely singing their anthem in Brazil’s “Fortress”. Fortaleza is where Brazil’s campaign took off last summer and the unaccompanied singing of the second verse of their anthem became par for the course. It was delivered with such passion on Tuesday, one wonders about the emotional condition of the players at kick-off.

Brazil made one change with Ramires replacing the injured Hulk. Mexico were unchanged but, for some reason, wore very nice red adidas shirts. Shame they paired them with black shorts which made them look like Cardiff.

The first quarter of the match was peppered with distinctly poor tackles. The first arrived as soon as Neymar touched the ball and was clattered unceremoniously by Vazquez. Brazil looked to get forward but it was Mexico who made early progress, winning a corner which came to nought. Gustavo was then flattened by Layun but the ref kept his cards in his pocket.

Another free kick on 6 minutes was in range for Luiz to shoot. After all the fuss about lines of shaving foam to prevent encroachment, I was amazed to see a defender start running at the same time as Luiz and easily block his shot about 3 yards from where it was taken. On 10 minutes Brazil created a proper chance. Marcelo fed Oscar down the left and his cross was met at the front post by Fred. The header went outside the post and ruffled the goal net. That was about the only contribution Fred made all game.

Brazil were doing their share of fouls too. On 12 mins Alves crudely hacked Guardado. A minute later Brazil got down the left again with Neymar finding Marcelo. His cross was deflected, hit Paulinho and out for a goal kick.

The game flowed back and forth with plenty of fouls, free kicks and poor quality long-range shooting. Fred was mostly static and often offside. Gustavo hit a contender for “worst shot of the tournament” high into the crowd. Mexico had their spells of possession but their shooting was hardly better.

On 22 mins Marquez drove imperiously upfield and played a one-two with Peralta in the Brazil box. Both players were hacked at by defenders and, had either gone down, it was difficult to see a penalty not being given – unless officials are under orders not to award them against the hosts. A minute later Herrera hit a screamer that Cesar tipped over. Goal kick – yeah, right.

Brazil went straight down the other end and nearly scored. Paulinho missed Neymar’s initial cross but Brazil recovered the ball and played it back in. Neymar rose and hit a powerful header goalwards forcing the save of the night from Ochoa. (Unfortunately the match director chose to use goal-line technology to show the ball had not crossed the line which set off Pearce about the “mix-up the other night” again. The only mix up is between your ears, you utter tool. Please BBC, get rid!)

That moment of quality stood out but that is not to say this was not exciting stuff. Both teams tried to attack, both were resolute in defence and rarely was any quarter given. The end-to-end nature of the contest was perfectly illustrated when Layun fired over Cesar’s bar and seconds later Ochoa was fielding a long range effort from Oscar.

Neymar kept trying to make things happen. On 32 he seemed to take on the whole Mexican defence and only weight of numbers stopped him, the ball bouncing harmlessly into the keeper’s grasp. More chances came at either end. One sweeping Brazil move ended with Marcelo firing wide. Then Guardado broke down the left, setting up Vazquez whose shot was wide but it had Cesar worried.

On 43 minutes Alves was fouled. Neymar stood over the ball as the big blokes trooped forward. The #10 hit a sweet ball over the defenders for Thiago to chest down. Both Luiz and Paulinho closed in but the latter’s toe-poke was saved by Ochoa. The Mexican keeper was having a good afternoon. There was still time for Mexico to win another free-kick which Guardado failed to convert before half time arrived. 0-0.

Ramirez had been poor and received the only yellow card of the first 45. He did not return after the break with Big Phil opting for Bernard instead. Mexico looked like they were settling in for a long evening as they sat in a rigid 5-3-2 for the opening period of the second half. Their 3 centre-backs looked very comfortable and each Brazilian cross was calmly headed away. When they did win a corner, Brazil worked the ball to Oscar but his shot was woeful.

Mexico then took over but were content to pass the ball around in the middle of the park. It was unusual to watch Brazil chasing the ball. Eventually the men in red did create openings with Guardado’s effort blocked, Vazquez shooting over and Dos Santos’s strike deflecting safely to the keeper. At this stage Mexico looked well on top and it would have been no surprise had they gone ahead. Herrera, Guardado and Dos Santos all went close but, during this period, Mexico received their first caution for Aguilar’s crude hack on Bernard. Vazquez received Mexico’s second yellow for fouling Neymar. The victim took the free kick himself, curling his shot wide and causing Drew to remark “He is no Rickie Lambert!”

On 65 minutes Jo was stripped off and ready to join – not before time. In the last attack before being withdrawn, Fred was caught offside for the umpteenth time. Fair play to Lawro who remarked “Get warmed up you’re coming off”.

The persistent Neymar engineered another chance when he controlled a cross on his chest and fired in a shot which the agile Ochoa saved. As Alves followed up the ball was put out for a corner. Mexico’s keeper punched the first cross away and safely caught the second. Jo’s introduction seemed to have speeded things up and Brazil looked more mobile all over the park. Suddenly it looked as if Mexico might be engulfed by a yellow tide but their centre backs stood strong.

On 72 minutes Peralta made way for Hernandez and the United player was soon threatening but Luiz calmly robbed him and cleared the danger. Jo’s better movement increased Brazil’s options and, when Bernard fed him on the left side of the box, he beat his defender but fired beyond the far post.

Fabian replaced the tiring Herrera but Brazil now seemed to get past the Mexican midfield at will – only to falter when faced by Moreno, Rodriguez and the magnificent Marquez. The equally impressive Thiago Silva was booked on 78 mins, going through Hernandez from behind. Dos Santos drove the free-kick against the wall. Brazil immediately broke up field and the final ball to Jo was smothered at his feet by Ochoa.

On 83 mins each side made their final substitutions – Willian for Oscar and Jimenez for Dos Santos. Another foul on Gustavo gave Neymar the chance to put a free-kick into the box. For once his cross evaded the Mexican defenders giving Thiago a free header but he planted it straight at the keeper. Then Marcelo cut into the box, felt a hand on his shoulder and went down like the proverbial sack of spuds. It had worked for Fred the other day but this referee waved play on.

In the dying minutes both sides fashioned further chances but by now it was clear no one would score. Three minutes of extra time were played but honours were even. It was a highly entertaining 0-0 draw which saw both sides plant one foot in the next round. The one thing that was determined by this result is that the Cameroon v Croatia game becomes a knock-out tie - whoever loses will first on the plane home.

There were a number of contenders for Man of the Match - mostly defenders. For his calm consistency my choice is Rafael Marquez. At 35, he still looks a classy player and one wonders whether Barca let him leave too soon…