Brazil vs. Argentina: Winners and Losers from International Friendly
Brazil ran out 2-0 winners over Argentina in Beijing on Saturday, the 100th meeting between the two nations, 100 years after the occasion of their first match against each other.
Diego Tardelli scored twice and Lionel Messi missed a penalty, while Kaka made his comeback for Brazil and Javier Pastore did likewise for Argentina.
Here are all the biggest winners and losers from the game between the two South American nations.
Winner: Diego Tardelli
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The first winner might just be the most obvious—but the most crucial for Dunga's longer-term planning, too.
After the farcical attempts of Fred and Jo to lead the Brazil national team attack over the past few years and in the World Cup, Diego Tardelli has been given his chance of late—and he certainly took it against Argentina.
Impressive mobility and directness with his dribbling gave the Argentina back line plenty of problems, while he also scored two poacher's goals: a fantastic volley after a defensive mix-up and a free header at the far post off a corner for his first two international strikes.
Tardelli could hardly have picked a better game to get the fans on his side with a telling contribution, which is an important characteristic for the Brazilian No. 9 to have.
Losers: Sergio Aguero and Lionel Messi
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Despite Argentina starting as the better side, it simply didn't happen for their front players on the day.
Sergio Aguero looked lively and got himself into good positions in the first half, but his shooting was well off the mark for once and he missed two or three more than presentable chances to test Jefferson. In the second half he barely had a touch and was subbed after an hour or so.
Lionel Messi, meanwhile, meandered from an odd right-sided starting position and couldn't get himself involved in play enough, missed a penalty and was denied by a few routine saves by Jefferson.
Not the best day for the attack, which petered out entirely after the break and didn't improve when Gonzalo Higuain made his entrance.
Winner: Roberto Pereyra
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While Javier Mascherano and Angel Di Maria are two guaranteed starters in the Argentina midfield, there is at least one other position up for grabs, and Roberto Pereyra did himself no harm at all with an impressive international debut for his side.
The Juventus man, who has figured in five out of six Serie A games this season, was a driving force in the first hour or so, dribbling through midfield at pace and showing good movement down the channels to keep Argentina's attacking options open and the Brazil defence under pressure.
He faded as his team failed to retain possession after the break and was replaced later on, but out of the likes of Erik Lamela, Enzo Perez, Javier Pastore and himself, Pereyra was the standout player on the ball and should feel confident about getting another chance with the team.
Loser: Referee Fan Qi
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Fair to say that the Chinese officials did not really have a good game in Beijing.
Fan Qi, the referee, failed to award a pretty clear penalty for a foul on Sergio Aguero, then gave a spot-kick to Argentina when the ball was actually clearly won in another challenge.
There was no punishment for the Brazil players constantly surrounding him, while cynical fouls from the likes of Martin Demichelis avoided yellow cards somehow too. Good tackles, such as one made on Messi near the end of the game by Filipe Luis, were somehow seen as fouls.
It was just a level of play above that which the officials were capable of, and it somewhat spoiled the spectacle.
Winner: Dunga
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There were plenty of dissenting voices who were disappointed that Dunga was re-appointed as Brazil head coach after the World Cup, but the former defensive midfielder has now won all three of his matches without conceding a goal.
All his opponents have also been South American rivals, interestingly enough, after Colombia and Ecuador were both downed 1-0 and now Argentina by a 2-0 scoreline.
The fluid and irrepressible football that fans want to see certainly isn't there yet, but Dunga has the team far more organised and resilient defensively than they were on home soil at the World Cup, and that had to be his starting point for any improvements.
He'll be happy with another win and giving the media no chance to lay into him or his team, while three wins and three clean sheets is an impressive start to his second reign.
