Brazil's Neymar Doubles to Help the Samba Stars Defeat Scotland at Emirates

Samba Stars Outshine Scotland at Emirates (video highlights)

 
It was always going to be a special day at the Emirates and so it turned out.

It ended as a 2-0 defeat for the Scots and for long periods of time throughout the match, Scotland were chasing shadows. But it wasn't unexpected that the match would be this way.

After all, Scotland rank 50 in FIFA's national team rankings so there is a huge difference in quality between the two sides. Scotland ended the match bringing on two substitutes, one plays for Peterbrough, the other for Watford. Compare this to Brazil's Barcelona, Inter, AC Milan and Liverpool players, no comparison really.

But as always in these matters, Scotland punched well above their weight, always saving their best for the better teams.

Scotland started the match with 75 percent of the support in their favour. Some 45,000 supporters had headed south to London for this friendly at the Emirates Stadium with the match played in glorious sunshine.

Brazil carved out chance after chance but Scotland's defence held firm until the 19-year-old star for the future, Neymar who plays with Santos, popped up with a beautiful curling shot into the corner of the goal, beating the outstretched arm of Alan McGregor in the Scottish goal.

It came in the 41st minute and was a blow to the Scots as they had hoped to head into half time with the scores all even.

Scotland have only ever scored three times in 10 meetings between the two sides over the years; 1966, Chalmers; 1982, Narey; 1998, Collins. A 16-year gap separates each goal, and if that pattern is to keep going, the World Cup in 2014 is the next target for a goal.

The match today was to offer little hope that that pattern would be broken as it took until the 81st minute before the Brazil keeper had a save to make.

The second half started much the same as the first had ended with waves of attacks peppering the Scottish goal, and they lucky a couple of times in the first five minutes when mistakes in defence allowed the Samba stars opportunities to extend their lead.

But the Scots held out and forced their way into the match giving the defence some well needed breathing space after a torrid time thus far.

Charlie Adam was having a brilliant game, pinging the ball about from side to side, picking players up from 40 yards out, on the wing, through the middle.

Adam had an knee injury scare midway through the second half, giving his Blackpool boss palpitations as his club still fight for survival in the English Premiership.

The afternoon was to belong to the stocking wearing, mohawked Neymar though as the youngster proved that he will be the next big thing to come out of Brazil. He jinked his way through the Scottish defence before being clipped by Charlie Adam in the box to earn his side a penalty which he dispatched away himself to give his side a two-goal lead.

The result had never really been in doubt and Neymar's ability was never in doubt either, he will no doubt be signed by one of the big Europeans teams this summer for some exorbitant transfer fee, the kind of fee that could pay off a small country's entire debt.

The game ended much the same as it started, in the sunshine, with singing supporters from either side in a cauldron of friendliness. The result seemed a sideshow compared to the occasion enjoyed by the Scottish fans who had made the trip south.

Scotland move on now to the Carling Nations Cup as their next match, not quite Brazil but another worthwhile exercise for Craig Levein as he looks to move the side forward to the next level with a new set of players.