Get Up Stand Up: Brazil 2-0 Scotland (International Friendly)

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GUSU was at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon for a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable experience. The 90 minutes of football was not exactly exhibition stuff; it was a meeting of two very unevenly matched sides and Brazil, off the back of two straight defeats, did not really produce the kind of free-flowing, confidence-inspiring performance that coach Mano Menezes would have wished for. It was not a bad performance, just perhaps not quite enough given the opposition. So this coupled with a dogged and determined defensive performance from Scotland did not make for a vintage game of football. However there were a large number of positives to take from the day and (from GUSU's point of view), Neymar's brace and the debuts of Lucas (extensively talked about on this blog) as well as Internacional's young striker Leandro Damião were particular highlights.

Perhaps one of the most memorable things about the day from a personal point of view was the unique atmosphere experienced both before and throughout the match. My only previous experience of Brazilian football had been a game in Rio de Janeiro between Vasco da Gama and Internacional in 2008. Vasco ran out 4-0 victors and former Palmeiras, Flamengo, Corinthians, Fiorentina, Santos, Napoli (+ 6 others) man Edmundo scored a brace during his fifth spell with the club. The party outside, the (literally) non-stop beat of the samba and the massive, beautifully decorated flags were not things I was expecting to savour this afternoon when crammed onto the Piccadilly line.

Nevertheless, just a few steps outside the tube station and I was lured down Hornsey Road by the unmistakeable, atmospheric beat of the Goiás Esporte Clube's London contingent complete with Surdo, Tamborim, Repinique and all. The grand green and white flags whipped defiantly in the afternoon wind: 'FORÇA JOVEM'. How fitting.

But this was no ordinary Brazilian pre-match routine. The Tartan Army are perhaps equally renowned for their own passionate support of the country's national side but few could have expected such a beautiful fusion of "We'll be coming down the road" set to the Brazilian beat in the North London sun. A truly special meeting of two vastly different footballing cultures and something I will not forget for a long, long time.

Back to on-field matters. Neymar made the absolute most of his place in the starting line-up; finishing very nicely indeed for his first goal and winning as well as scoring the penalty. He generally looked very lively throughout the game and appears completely ready to be a regular in this Menezes Brazil side. Probably the man of the match.

Lucas made his eagerly-awaited debut with about twenty minutes remaining and GUSU was absolutely thrilled to see him make an immediate impact. He passed the ball to Neymar in the immediate build-up to the penalty and a couple of great runs could have gone down as fantastic assists had there been some more accurate finishing. A really impressive twenty-minute cameo without a hint of being overawed by the occasion.

This was the first time I had seen Leandro Damião and felt he also had an impressive debut - perhaps unlucky not to get his name on the scoresheet. The 6ft 2ins striker came close a few times with good headers at goal, one of which grazed the top of the crossbar. It would be a bit harsh to say he should have scored and Menezes can be happy with how close he came on several occasions - it felt like it just wasn't his day infront of goal.

The Seleção's next scheduled fixture is not until June when they play the Netherlands back in Brazil. Hopefully this will provide another opportunity for Damião as well as some more game time for Lucas. One thing that seems pretty certain is that (fitness permitting) Neymar will be safely in the starting XI.

Here are some selected pictures from my day: