Thiago Maia The Rock, Neymar Comes Up Short - 5 Lessons From Brazil 0-0 South Africa

The Santos starlet shone on what was otherwise a frustrating afternoon for the hosts as they clumped to a goalless draw on their Rio 2016 debut

Brazil finally opened their Rio 2016 Olympic campaign on Thursday. But despite great expectations of the hosts, the Selecao Olimpica looked anxious as they stumbled to a goalless draw with an impressive South Africa side.

Around 70,000 packed into the Mane Garrincha stadium in Brasilia desperate to see Neymar lead the hosts to victory but they ultimately failed to make the breakthrough against a side restricted to 10 men for much of the second half.
 
Below the Chevrtolet Brasil Global Tour looks back at the main talking points from Brazil’s Olympic opener.

Defensive midfielder Thiago Maia provided coach Rogerio Micale a huge positive on what proved a frustrating afternoon. The 19-year-old Santos star is the youngest member of the squad, but looked the most experienced in an assured display that oozed confidence from the outset. The lone specialist defensive midfielder in the team, he has a big task on his hands this month but took it all in his impressive stride on Thursday, eating up ground and opponents as he persistently broke up counter-attacks and won the ball back for his side high up the pitch.

Captain and No.10 Neymar has inevitably been made the poster boy of Rio 2016 and once again the pressure on him to deliver is huge. The Barcelona man is the leader of this side both on and off the field, but he struggled against a quick, strong and athletic South African backline who refused to be beaten one vs one. Ney repeatedly dropped from his position wide on the left to act as a playmaker, but couldn’t open up the defence. Micale may well now ask Neymar to stay further forward and leave some of the playmaking responsibilities to Renato Augusto and Felipe Anderson.

In order to alleviate Neymar of some of the creative burden, Renato Augusto and Felipe Anderson will have to get much closer to one another this month. Neymar’s insistence on dropping deep to collect possession and dictate the tempo restricted space for Augusto and Anderson who too often were too far away from another – on just six occasions did on pass to the other. They must find greater harmony going forward and take more control in possession, leaving Neymar to operate further up the field where he is most dangerous.

Following the dismissal of Mothobi Mvala early in the second half, Micale introduced Luan and switched to the 4-2-4 formation we had seen him experiment with both in training and Satuday’s friendly victory over Japan. It made an instant impact as Luan provided an extra cutting-edge – Brazil had their best chances following his introduction. With Iraq and Denmark likely to attempt to sit back and stifle the hosts, the 4-2-4 will undoubtedly get another run our before month end.

There was something of a party atmosphere building in Brasilia as the Selecao Olimpica came out for their Rio 2016 debut, but the joyous and confident mood at the stadium began to turn sour as the hosts failed to find a way through South Africa. Chants quickly turned to jeers and, with Miale’s decision to withdraw Renato Augusto receiving a particularly vitriolic reaction. Even Neymar wasn’t exempt as the natives grew increasingly restless. The pressure of performing on home soil clearly got to the team at World Cup 2014 – the Selecao Olimpica will need the full backing of the locals if they are to make history and take the gold this month.

..... - Goal