World Cup 2014

It's getting a bit tedious now listening to all of these pundits and so called experts denouncing Brazil & their football style. I've been hearing some maniacs say they need to completely change the way they play. Its going to take years, decades to fix this said a so called expert on BBC Breakfast. Then you have the (not so) likely lads on ITV football with their told you so analysis after the events have happened. If you rewind the clock back 12 months to the Confederations Cup in Brazil. Brazil sped through to win the tournament with practically the same team as in the World Cup. Fred was the joint top scorer, Neymar won the golden boot. Beating Japan, Italy, Mexico, Uruguay & Spain to get there. Go back even further to the last World Cup under Mario Menezes, they had no shape or style, ultra defensive and only made it to the Quarter Finals. This time they get to the Semi's (OK, the Brazilian people expected them to win the whole thing) and get absolutely schooled by the Germans. But that is more for lack of trying than ability. A catalogue of defensive errors, like the wrong captain chosen, unfamiliar partners & failing to track back left Germany to do as they desired. This can easily be fixed with a new manager, Big Phil has had his day and there have been successful ones but his insistence on playing certain players has left the team too rigid. We've seen in the Premiership that David Luiz can't operate as a central defender so gets moved up the pitch or doesn't play. Thiago Silva was hiding Luiz's weaknesses but when he was suspended they were on full show and putting him as the leader accelerated the embarrassment.

There are still plenty of players who were either out of form, out of favour or not ready, who can easily play a part in the next World Cup. Lucas Moura, Ganso, Douglas Costa, Marquinhos, Lucas Leiva, Danilo, Alex Sandro, Leandro Damião, Alex Pato, Lucas Piazon. This isn't going to take years to fix. A fresh approach and new ideas will be the tonic.