SAO PAULO: Brazil have nothing to prove in early Saturday’s friendly against Colombia in Miami despite an embarrassing World Cup exit, said defender Gil who has been called up for the first time.
The Corinthians player watched the humiliating 7-1 defeat by Germany in the semi-finals and 3-0 loss to the Netherlands in the third-place playoff.
But the strapping centre-half, one of three uncapped players in Dunga’s squad, said the new coach has the experience to turn Brazil’s fortunes around.
“It’s not about lifting Brazilian football up again,” said the 27-year old former Valenciennes player. “Brazilian football doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone.
“Of course, when something happens like what happened in the World Cup, some things need to change. But we’re not worried about it because the people in charge of the national side know what needs to be done.
“A new era is starting and it is going to work out for Brazil.”
Deschamps reiterates belief in current squad
France’s friendly 1-0 win over Spain showed their run to the World Cup quarter-finals in Brazil was no fluke and has strengthened coach Didier Deschamps’s belief that he is building his Euro 2016 campaign around the right core.
Deschamps, who has two seasons of friendlies to get his team ready to host Euro 2016, said the performance against Spain was built on what they had achieved in Brazil.
“We managed to keep the mindset,” said Deschamps. “Those who started were all at the World Cup. We have references, and we have gained experience in two years. It isn’t huge but it counts.”
Meanwhile, two goals in the first 10 minutes were enough to see Italy to a 2-0 friendly victory over World Cup semi-finalists the Netherlands and launch their new era under coach Antonio Conte in style.
In another friendly, Dries Mertens and Axel Witsel were on target as Belgium marked their first international against Australia by winning their friendly in Liege 2-0.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 6th, 2014.
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