Brazil’s national team locks horns with the Netherlands on Saturday in a friendly, but both teams’ line-ups will need to go through revisions, as the two coaches will be forced to make changes.
Brazil manager Mano Menezes was compelled to exclude AC Milan star Alexandre Pato the last time around prior to a friendly against Scotland in March. This time, in a repeat of the 2010 World Cup’s first quarterfinal game, Mano will again have to deal with the injured striker’s absence, and thus rely on Neymar to fulfil his duties upfront against the Netherlands.
Ganso has also been declared unfit for the clash, while Kaka and Ronaldinho—who have not spent so much time in the spotlight lately—have been omitted from the squad. For Holland coach Van Marwijk, the situation is not less complicated, obviously…
The Dutch side will be without ineligible playmakers Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart, Mark van Bommel, Demy de Zeeuw, Theo Janssen, Maarten Stekelenburg and Michel Vorm. All these withdrawals certainly put Van Marwijk in an extremely restrained position. The Netherlands’ boss is even said to give Jeffrey Bruma and Joris Mathijsen a chance this weekend, as he looks to strengthen his defence—already weakened by the truancy of an injured John Heitinga.
Being favourites of the 2011 Copa America set to kick-off in Argentina next month, Brazil will be looking to extract maximum positives out of their friendly challenge—since they can wish for nothing but to be fully prepared to defend their title. Netherlands, however, will be hoping to survive in Goias, before gathering their strength to face Uruguay on June 8.
Ganso has also been declared unfit for the clash, while Kaka and Ronaldinho—who have not spent so much time in the spotlight lately—have been omitted from the squad. For Holland coach Van Marwijk, the situation is not less complicated, obviously…
The Dutch side will be without ineligible playmakers Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart, Mark van Bommel, Demy de Zeeuw, Theo Janssen, Maarten Stekelenburg and Michel Vorm. All these withdrawals certainly put Van Marwijk in an extremely restrained position. The Netherlands’ boss is even said to give Jeffrey Bruma and Joris Mathijsen a chance this weekend, as he looks to strengthen his defence—already weakened by the truancy of an injured John Heitinga.
Being favourites of the 2011 Copa America set to kick-off in Argentina next month, Brazil will be looking to extract maximum positives out of their friendly challenge—since they can wish for nothing but to be fully prepared to defend their title. Netherlands, however, will be hoping to survive in Goias, before gathering their strength to face Uruguay on June 8.
