France vs. Brazil: Tactical Review of International Friendly

Brazil beat France 3-1 in an exhibition match at the Stade de France on Thursday evening, stepping up their Copa America 2015 preparations and dealing Les Bleus a blow ahead of Euro 2016 in one fell swoop. Raphael Varane opened the scoring, but Oscar, Neymar and Luiz Gustavo responded to seal the win.

Formations and XIs

@stighefootball

For Didier Deschamps, it was a regular 4-3-3, with Moussa Sissoko replacing the injured Paul Pogba, Steve Mandanda doing the same for Hugo Lloris and Bacary Sagna getting the nod at right-back. Karim Benzema captained the side.

Brazil played a 4-2-3-1 that boasted two very defensive holding players in Luiz Gustavo and Elias. Neymar lined up centrally, Roberto Firmino was in a loose forward's role and Oscar was on the left. Danilo, the future at right-back, continued to gain experience.

1. Tempo Control

Brazil began the first half with three minutes of solid possession, passing the ball across the back line and only timidly into midfield. The Stade de France, glowing with the memories of beating the Selecao there in the 1998 World Cup final, were soon quietened by the slow beginning.

Dunga's men had clearly been instructed to control the tempo of the game to keep France at bay and refuse to allow them to build momentum and pace. Les Bleus can be an intense side and like to play with high velocity. However, if you prevent Moussa Sissoko and Blaise Matuidi from getting going, you can hold them at arm's length.

Credit: TSN

Even at 1-0 down, Brazil never panicked. They dominated possession and lured the hosts into a stupor, nudging them back into their own half and making them chase shadows. When chances to counter-attack did arise, Antoine Griezmann wasted most of them with some horrific touches and turns. He looked really off on the night and couldn't string anything together.

Preventing the hosts from piecing together their attacking game was key, and Brazil's clever use of the ball and control of the tempo was vital to achieving superiority in the game. Outside of set pieces in the first half, France rarely threatened. The lack of penetrative dribbles and cute interchanges was notable.

2. Brazil Link-Up

Brazil played with Firmino in a nine-and-a-half role up front, allowing him to drop deep and link play rather than be stuck up front as a constant focal point. It's a marked move away from the Fred era, as we previewed, and it could usher in more aesthetic times up top.

Firmino split his time fairly evenly between playing up against Mamadou Sakho and dropping in, and while Morgan Schneiderlin did well to mop up most attacks, a few combination moves absolutely flummoxed the France back line.

Credit: TSN

For Brazil's equaliser, Oscar—playing the role of offensive outlet and link player in midfield on the night—started an attack from deep on the left, played a one-two with Neymar and poked the ball home. It happened very quickly, and it was the speed at which they were able to change things up that astonished.

They passed it casually and controlled the tempo for two minutes and then bang! Three passes later, it's in the back of the net and Sakho and Raphael Varane are quizzing each other with their eyes. The goal was emblematic of the fresher approach up front, but the lack of a No. 9 does necessitate Brazil dribbling at defenders one against one to create chances. That's why Neymar played in the middle with licence to drift.

3. Set Pieces

Set-piece defending from both sides was rather poor, and as tactically intricate or well-contested games can be, things are often decided from corners and free-kicks. There's something to be said for the quality of the deliveries coming in from Willian, Neymar and Mathieu Valbuena, but the marking, at the most basic level, was awful.

The fourth and final goal of the match, sealing a 3-1 win for Brazil, saw Luiz Gustavo rise unmarked to head home. Varane, who was supposed to be on him, was halfway to the ground a yard or two away as the ball left the Wolfsburg man's head.

Credit: TSN

In the first half, Jefferson acrobatically denied Karim Benzema at the back post after Filipe Luis had simply stopped marking him for the second ball. Just because the ball has been contested doesn't mean you lose your man.

Brazil pierced the centre of France's midfield with quick attacks and great movement in the second half, but the set pieces were the most threatening part of the game. Thiago Silva and Moussa Sissoko also came close, and Varane gave Les Bleus the lead with a header from a corner.

Odds and Ends

• As noted, Griezmann was awful. He's losing his grip on a starting role for France.
• Bacary Sagna, too, had a rough night. Right-back is a problem area for Les Bleus, as injury-prone Mathieu Debuchy is the only player they can really hang their hat on.
• Brazil showed good tactical nous, dealt with the occasion (for this was not a lowly friendly) and displayed a penetrative side to their game that bodes well. Firmino didn't score but looked at home in the system, while Philippe Coutinho would slot right in.
• Oscar, playing on the left, was key to linking the back and the front. There's still some fluency issues in the centre to be looked at there.

Follow @stighefootball