Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of Brazil's visit of Mexico in the side's final warm-up game before the Copa America.
Sao Paulo plays host as both teams look to go into next week's tournament on the back of a morale-boosting victory tonight.
Brazil have won all eight of their games since Dunga took charge after a disappointing end to their World Cup on home soil last summer, which saw them finish fourth.
Mexico, who held the Selecao to a goalless draw in the group stages 12 months ago, drew 1-1 with Peru on Wednesday night.
Please note that kickoff is scheduled for 9pm.
Still hurting over the fact that last night's Champions League final was the last significant club outing for about three months? We hear you. But fear not because that football-shaped hole in our hearts can be filled by, well, football - but of the international variety! Welcome to our live text commentary of Brazil's visit of Mexico in a pre-Copa America encounter in Sao Paulo. What better way to kick off the summer? An ice-cold pint of cider? Fair point. But we'll make do with this for the moment.
Link my arm as we take a stroll down memory lane, my friends. You may remember - or may not, given the scoreline - that both of these sides played out a 0-0 draw in last summer's World Cup; with Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa the hero that day with a series of stupendous saves to thwart Neymar and co in a Group A clash. #stupendous #what
There is significantly less on offer this time around. Sure, both sides will want to win in order to ride the crest of a wave into the Copa America, but defeat isn't the end of the world this evening. It's a chance for Dunga and Miguel Herrera to experiment with their players ahead of next weekend's trip to Chile for the competition.
Speaking of players, shall we get a bit of team news out? Why not. Before we do, I can confirm that Neymar is not available tonight, having played and scored in a Champions League final less than 24 hours ago and all, while Mexico are also under-strength but we'll discuss why a little later. Stay tuned.
BRAZIL XI: Jefferson; Danilo, Miranda, David Luiz, Filipe Luis; Fernandinho, Elias, Fred; Philippe Coutinho, Willian; Diego Tardelli
MEXICO XI: Corona, Corral, Ayala, Márquez, Domínguez, Aldrete, Osuna, Guemez, Corona, Herrera, Jimenez
Okay we'll start with the Selecao and coach Dunga starts Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Fred - unrelated to the striker Fred, who is a Brazilian version of Emile Heskey - and Shandong Luneng striker Diego Tardelli. Robinho is absent with a knee injury, as his Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho so Real Madrid man Casemiro comes into midfield. David Luiz and Miranda partner each other at centre-half.
On to the Mexicans now and Herrera, who has one eye on the Copa America and another on the Gold Cup immediately afterwards, has deployed Raul Jiminez to spearhead the attack, with Eduardo Herrera, Jesus Manuel Corona and Javier Guemez supporting in midfield.
I know what you're thinking: where's Carlos Vela, Giovanni Dos Santos and Javier Hernandez? Well, as we said, Mexico have the CONCACAF Gold Cup straight after the Chile-based competition finishes and that's the tournament that Herrera is treating it as a priority; they're merely guests at the Copa America, and have been since 1993, but the Gold Cup is the priority.
Goalkeeper Ochoa, whose heroics denied the Selecao 12 months ago in Fortaleza, and Hector Herrera are also been preserved.
Incidentally, this is Brazil's first home game since their nightmare World Cup 12 months ago. Link my arm again and let's walk down memory lane once more, shall we?
Remember the tragic images of the elderly man with a moustache (not Luis Felipe Scolari) hugging a replica World Cup trophy afterwards? And the little girl (not David Luiz) sobbing uncontrollably? Both iconic images evoke memories of how the tournament hosts were dismantled by Germany in the semi-final and bowed out with a 7-1 defeat.
If things weren't bad enough, they then lost to Netherlands in the third-place playoff to finish fourth.
But things have been looking up for Brazil since Dunga replaced Scolari, who described that defeat as the worst day of his life. Since the World Cup, Dunga has led Brazil to eight successive victories to restore a little bit of optimism, and indeed pride, following their dreadful World Cup.
This calendar year, the Selecao have beaten both Chile and France, having finished 2014 with victories over Colombia and Argentina among others. Impressive, eh? Yep. He's got Brazil playing again and a ninth successive win here will do them the world of good heading into Copa America.
On to Mexico now and if you think the lack of Vela, Dos Santos, Ochoa and Hernandez isn't significant then think again. Herrera's side drew with Peru last time out, having only beaten Guatemala the previous week. They're big underdogs tonight, my friends, so don't be surprised to see Brazil run away with it.
It's not like Brazil have dominated the head-to-head meetings, however. They've won three and lost three of the last seven meetings. Statistically, this one could go either way but, in truth, Brazil should most definitely have too much for their North American counterparts today.
Looks like there's been a change to the initial Brazil team. We thought Casemiro was filling in for Fernandinho in midfield, but I can confirm that the Manchester City man is fit and Casemiro drops to the bench. Mexico team unchanged.
PREDICTION: Right, kickoff is rapidly approaching so let's submit an aul' pre-match prediction, will we? Okay, and I'm going for 3-1 Brazil. I think they've got more than enough quality to beat Mexico tonight and it should be fairly straightforward - but time will tell.
Right, the players are out on the field and we're hearing the national anthems now. Interestingly, the emblem on the Mexican flag is an eagle biting a snake in half. Did you know this? Me neither. On a lighter note - three minutes until kickoff.
KICKOFF: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're off in Sao Paulo, my friends. Brazil, playing from left to right, get us underway. I fancy a decent game here. Let's go.
CHANCE! We've just see our first and best chance of the clash so far, as Luiz and Fernandinho attack the same ball from Coutinho's corner, but Luiz heads over from close range. Decent chance that.
It's all Brazil so far folks, and a wonderful bit of skill from Willian has the crowd purring before he's upended by Rafa Marquez. Mexico don't look bad going forward, though.
David Luiz gets a bit of stick, and rightly so in many cases, but he's made a fantastic challenge here to cut out Herrera's through ball for Raul Jiminez. Well done.
Set-piece opportunities might be a way in which Brazil can hurt Mexico, and Jesus Corona has a chance to swing in a decent free kick here but it's cleared by Miranda. At the other end, Brazil look a little disjointed in attack thus far.
Mexico are giving as good as they get here; both in terms of physicality and skill. They don't look a bad side despite the fact they're relatively under-strength.
You'll remember Miguel Herrera from the World Cup surely? The Mexico boss is known to get a little animated down in his technical area but he'll be happy with what he has seen thus far. The visitors have looked fine in this first 17 minutes.
SHOT! We've seen the first shot, and it's from Mexico's Raul Jimenez, who takes aim from well outside the box and Brazil keeper Jefferson watches his effort fly harmlessly wide.
SHOT! We've just another shot from Mexico but, despite being on target, Jefferson comfortably deals with Herrera's ambitious volley. Mexico on top.
Has Rafael Marquez got the same disease as Benjamin Button? He's 36 but he looks younger than he ever did at Barcelona. It's amazing. Good to see him still involved at this level.
SHOT! It's taken 26 minutes but we've finally seen Brazil's first shot. Was it worth waiting for? Nope. It's Diego Tardelli, whose angled drive flies well over the crossbar. Not sure what he was thinking there.
GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Brazil 1-0 Mexico (Coutinho)
This is absolutely brilliant from Liverpool man Philippe Coutinho, who lets Filipe Luis's pass run past his body to deceive Marquez, before finishing past Corona from the tightest of angles. Brilliant, brilliant goal.
BOOKING: Javier Guemez goes into the book for a full-blooded challenge on right-back Danilo. Could've been a red card to be fair.
PENALTY APPEAL: Minimal appeals for the Mexico players but this one looked like a stonewall penalty, as Jimenez goes down under a challenge from Filipe Luis and the visiting striker accepts it! That was odd.
GOAL!!!!!!!!!! Brazil 2-0 Mexico (Tardelli)
Brazil two goals to the good now as Elias survives a half-hearted challenge by Ayala, before squaring across the face of goal for Diego Tardelli to tap home from close range. Simple finish. Simple goal. 2-0, and a big, big ask for Mexico now.
David Luiz has been excellent today; hasn't put a foot wrong but has broken up so many Mexico attacks with his clever reading of the game and interceptions.
Two minutes until the break and, as it stands, Brazil are supremely comfortable. It's 2-0 but Mexico haven't done a whole lot in the final third to prompt belief that they can reduce the arrears.
HALF TIME: Brazil 2-0 Mexico
Decent first 45 minutes or so from Brazil then. Phillipe Coutinho got the show underway with an excellent opening goal on 28 minutes, before Diego Tardelli doubled the advantage nine minutes later as Brazil cruise to a half-time lead.
Mexico have looked alright at times but they're shot on creativity in the final third, with David Luiz and Miranda comfortably repelling everything that comes their way in defence. Luiz, in particular, has been very good.
RESTART: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're back underway in Sao Paulo. Mexico kick us off once again and Miguel Herrera's side have a big ask in order to get back in this game.
Only one sub to tell you about as Rafael Marquez makes way for Carlos Salciedo in defence. It's as you were for Brazil.
In truth, Mexico haven't done much to inspire confidence in regards to getting back in this game. It was all Brazil in the first half more or less, and the second period has started in the same fashion. Coutinho looks lively and may well grab himself a second.
Oh lord. Mexico aren't at the races here; their crosses are going out for goal kicks and their cross-field passes are going straight out for throw-ins. It could be a long night for them unless they sort their you know what out for the last 35 minutes or so.
BOOKING: We've seen our third booking as Rafa Marquez goes into the book for a cynical foul on Willian. Fair decision.
Coutinho drills the resulting free kick into the box, but Mexico, eventually, clear their lines.
SUB: Brazil make their first sub as Roberto Firmino replaces Diego Tardelli, who scored the second goal.
Mexico are fresh out of ideas here, my friends. They don't really know what they're doing in the final third anymore; they're just being gobbled up at every opportunity by Luiz, Miranda and the boys. Coutinho still buzzing about in the final third but not creating much anymore. I expect him to be subbed soon.
SUB: Striker Matias Vuoso replaces the ineffective Raul Jimenez now as Mexico look for a route back into the clash.
SUB: Mexico make another sub now as Juan Carlos Medina steps in for Javier Guemez, who probably would've been sent off had he stayed on the field any longer. Having already been booked, he's produced a number of dodgy challenges since.
We said Philippe Coutinho would be going off soon, and it's just happened but I didn't see who came on for him. I'll let you know as soon as I do.
Ah, it was only Everton Ribeiro who replaced Coutinho. The winger looks to have the jet-heeled pace necessary to stretch Mexico further but his strong, powerful run was ultimately stopped by Marquez there a moment ago.
SUB: Another Brazil sub now as Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro replaces Elias, who had a good game.
We said 3-1 Brazil before kickoff. Has that prediction still got legs? Don't think so, because Mexico can't seem to get the ball, and if they did then they still have to get past the defence, and if they did then they still have to score!
Coutinho's departure appears to have taken a bit of the sting out of Brazil's attack. It was quick, slick and efficient when he was on. Now it's.....not. Six minutes of normal time to go and I can't imagine we'll have an abundance of additional time.
CLOSE! This is about as close as Mexico have come all night, as Herrera's low shot whistles narrowly wide of Jefferson's right post. Decent effort but it just about sums up the visitors' evening.
THREE MINUTES ADDED ON:
FULL TIME: Brazil 2-0 Mexico
That's all she wrote here folks. Goals from Philippe Coutinho and Diego Tardelli proves enough to give Brazil a comfortable win ahead of next week's Copa America curtain-raiser.
Thanks for joining our live text commentary and we'll see you next time!
Written by
Shane Callaghan
Shane Callaghan
