Brazil vs. Mexico: Lessons El Tri Can Learn from United States Loss to Brazil

If Mexico wants a good showing against Brazil when the two meet in a friendly on June 3, El Tri would be wise to look over the tape from Wednesday night's 4-1 Brazilian win over the United States.

There are many lessons to be learned.

Ultimately, the game was closer than the score suggests, though the 2-1 score at the end of the first half didn't do justice the complete domination Neymar and the Brazilian team displayed in the first 45.

They dominated possession, largely prevented the United States from advancing far into the midfield with a stifling and aggressive defense and they kept Landon Donovan very quiet, largely due to the efforts of Marcelo at left back.

In the first half, Brazil was constantly moving forward, whether they had the ball or not, and the United States didn't have an answer. The Americans also made a costly mistake they should never have made—they allowed Brazil to score off of a corner kick.

The Brazilians are difficult enough to deal with as it is, so giving up a goal on a set piece is absolutely killer. Mexico will obviously want to avoid that.

In the second half, however, the United States was able to sustain its own offensive attack more frequently and came up with several very good scoring opportunities. The old notion of Brazilian soccer holds true with this version—deadly moving forward, but vulnerable if you keep them pinned defensively.

Mexico must be able to sustain their attack when they move into the defensive third, and they must finish when they have opportunities, something the United States failed to do. Because if you don't, you open yourself up to arguably the scariest counter-attack in international football.

When you give this Brazilian team a head of steam and the space that is often available on the counter-attack, bad things happen. Neymar and Hulk flying down the wings is the stuff of nightmares for defenders, and the whole of Brazil's team is creative in space and clinical in its finishing.

So while it's probably academic to note at this point, Mexico must pick its spots. At times, the Americans played a bit too loose moving forward and it was costly. Retaining possession, sustained build-up into the attacking third and a prolonged attack are the safest ways to beat Brazil.

The Brazilians also open themselves up for lob passes over the top since the team's outside backs so often push up the flank to join offensive attack, but that's always a hit-or-miss play.

But yes, there were lessons to be learned from the United States' 4-1 loss to Brazil. I wouldn't expect El Tri to upset the mighty South Americans, but they should be able to give them a game.

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