Samba Stars Surpass Team GB

Brazil   2            Team GB   0

                                    Sandro  12
                                    Neymar (pen) 35

It was always going to be a big ask for a team limited in international experience and brought together for a one off occasion to take on an ever developing young Brazil side, favourites to take the Olympic gold in three weeks’ time.

In the only warm up game before the tournament the Teesside crowd of 24,721 keenly awaited the chance to see some world class players on show including forwards Neymar and Hulk in a Brazil side full of tricks and talent. To the delight of the home fans Middlesbrough keeper Jason Steele started in goal for team GB raising the biggest applause in the team announcements along with captain Ryan Giggs.

As the game begun under the late evening sun there were encouraging signs in the opening five minutes for team GB as they controlled possession early on. However the pace and power on the break created to first opening of the game only for Santos striker Neymar to squander the opportunity from inside the area.

Neymar after adding Brazil's second from the spot

A cheap conceded free kick eight minutes later allowed Brazil chance to move ahead, when Neymar’s cross fooled the GB defenders who expected a shot, before Tottenham midfielder Sandro’s header beat Steele at the far post.

Still in a learning environment the crowd struggled to know how to support a newly formed team GB, missing the traditional band and singing of a home crowd but applauding Captain Giggs when he was on the ball. While Neymar’s efforts for a penalty triggered boos from the crowd as the forward lay in the area holding his face.  

From then on Brazil’s class and togetherness was one above their opponent’s with Chelsea transfer target Oscar running the show in midfield. Brazil’s second came courtesy of Hulk’s powerful run into the area once the forward shrugged off Micah Richards before drawing the foul and penalty from the Manchester City defender. Neymar then calmly converted the spot kick from twelve yards in the bottom right hand corner.  

    

Stuart Pearce made four changes at half time including a change of keeper in Birmingham’s Jack Butland, and the nineteen year old was forced straight into action when Oscar’s effort from range forced a dive to the right to keep the ball out.

Like the first half team GB struggled to create anything in the final third. However the hosts did produce their best move of the game ten minutes after the restart when some good build up play worked its way to Danny Rose whose low cross found Craig Bellamy in an offside position. Rose continued to be GB’s biggest threat going forward but the team still failed to create a clear cut chance.

Butland was the by far the busier keeper as he showed real potential for an international career first keeping out Neymar’s effort inside the area before brilliantly tipping substituted Alexandre Pato’s header over the bar.

Manger Pearce later said his team were lacking full fitness against one of the outstanding Olympic sides. Team GB now play their first group game against Senegal at Old Trafford on Thursday while Brazil, with all eighteen of their squad members having played at international level before, face Egypt at the Millennium Stadium.