Jeando Fuchs had not read the script, or maybe he has never heard of Neymar da Silva Santos Jr. On a bitterly cold evening with the wind straight off the Russian steppes 29,000 hardy souls turned out for the right to say they saw Neymar play in Milton Keynes. For seven minutes, the time it took for Fuchs to bundle Neymar out of the game.
Brazil’s keynote speaker is on permanent alert for shouts of ‘let him know you’re there’, but really, a friendly money-spinner served with tea and cakes? And no, Mr Fuchs, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting is no sort of stand-in despite sharing a dressing room with Neymar at Paris St Germain.
If the main point for technical observers was the chance to see close-up how the best players in the world compare with their League Two heroes at MK, then at least the extras in the Brazil line-up did not let them down. On for Neymar came Everton’s athletic hustler Richarlison to keep Roberto Firmino and Willian company up top. If Cameroon thought that a decent trade they were thinking differently when his header a minute before the break put a hole in the Cameroon net.
Pythagorean precision
Though denied their fabled yellow shirts in deference to the green of Cameroon Brazil don’t look bad in blue. The ball passes between them with the same Pythagorean precision and when called upon shuts like a venus fly trap around opposition attackers. Though the first half was Neymar-less the packed house was fully engaged. And for a special half time treat a couple of their number tore across the turf in a Keystone Cops episode with the stewards. Great stuff.
The late night shoppers must have thought Ikea had gone early with Black Friday or Asda was knocking out fridges at half price. The retail action in downtown MK a month from Christmas is never less than rocking. Throw in an evening with Brazil and the result is roundabout mayhem, the glow of brake lights snaking around the city visible from the moon.
For MK Dons owner, Pete Winkelman, this was PR nirvana, a genuine chunk of football exotica right here in the house he built. Roll up, roll up, see the mighty Brazil and while you’re at it, buy a ticket for the Dons next match. For the price of a pair of high-end trainers you can get a season ticket for the rest of the season, a mere £162 – under 18s just £20. Bargain.
Brand Brazil
You can’t blame him marketing his big moment for all its worth. The gate receipts are promised to the rights holders of Brand Brazil – sponsored by Chevrolet – a British company based in London would you believe. And if you are to bang your drum you are not going to make much noise around the English National Badminton Championships, which featured in the programme list of major events hosted in the ten-year history of Stadium MK.
A record turnout demonstrates the market for top-flight football in this golden triangle bounded by Bucks, Beds and Northants. But with a tight Champions League group featuring Liverpool and Napoli still to negotiate you could sense the eyes rolling among PSG coaching staff when Neymar limped off. What are the concerns of clubs when there are millions to be made hawking the world’s best around all points on the compass.
Tuning fork
The introduction of Gabriel Jesus for Firmino at half time was hardly a boon to Cameroon, or perhaps it was since his first contribution was to ping a shot against a post. Barcelona squad midfielder Arthur then made a tuning fork of the cross bar. Sometimes the drama of ball on wood can be the equal of ball in net, especially when the outcome is not affected.
Cameroon, the African Cup of Nations Champions, defend the title they won in 2017 on home soil next year. This was considered worthy preparation by coach Clarence Seedorf. He might be right if testing his keepers to the limit while keeping the scoreline sensible was the point of the exercise. They might have nicked an equaliser, too, in the dying seconds, Jacques Zoua’s header coming back off the post with Ederson nowhere.
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