Saturday, June 4, 2011

Brazil vs Holland



Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar has denied his side will be out to avenge their World Cup elimination when they meet Holland in a friendly.
The Dutch defeated Brazil 2-1 at the quarter-final stage in South Africa with Saturday's game at the Estadio Serra Dourada the first time the teams have met since.
Cesar has played down thoughts his Brazil will be spurred on by that reverse, instead claiming preparations ahead of next month's Copa America were far more important.
"It's not a rematch. The World Cup is a unique competition," said Cesar, who left the pitch after the last-eight defeat in tears.
"I felt a lot that defeat - we all did.
"This is a valuable match for us. It's good for the new coach (Mano Menezes) to watch the team.
"We have the Copa America ahead and as we won't have the qualifiers this time for the next World Cup, it's more difficult for them to build the team."
Menezes has named a near full-strength squad for Saturday's game, as well as Tuesday match with Romania, as he aims to fine-tune his preparations ahead of the Copa America opener against Venezuela on July 3.
His major concern is over upcoming striker Neymar who could be rested after his exertions with Santos in the Copa Libertadores. Should Neymar be left to sit out, Robinho and Leandro Damiao are likely to be given starting roles.
Holland will be without Wesley Sneijder due to injury, which will be welcome news to Brazil after the star midfielder scored both goals in their World Cup elimination.
The visitors also come into the match with some question marks over the future of manager Bert van Marwijk with some reports suggesting the 59-year-old may leave the Oranje post after the Euro 2012 finals next summer.
Striker Robin van Persie has urged the former Feyenoord boss to remain.
"Every time I have been with the national team, he challenges us as a group and me individually," the Arsenal striker told Voetbal International.
"He keeps everyone sharp and demands that we are on top of our game. That's clever as not every coach knows the right chord to strike with their players."

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