Misfiring Brazilians no concern for Menezes

09 August 2011 20:00

Brazil coach Mano Menezes insists he is not fazed by his side's inability to score goals as the South Americans prepare to face Germany in a friendly on Wednesday.

The South American giants arrive in Stuttgart having scored just six goals in six games during last month's Copa America before they crashed out to Paraguay on penalties in the quarter-finals.

Brazil host the 2014 World Cup and face a dearth of competitive football over the next three years so this is a chance to claim a major European scalp.

Menezes says he is not overly concerned by the lack of goals as they face a Germany side who start as favourites and are hunting their first win over Brazil since 1993.

The Brazilians need a confidence-boosting win after a poor campaign in Argentina where they were held to goalless draws in three of the six games.

"Finishing has never been a problem for Brazilian teams," said 49-year-old Menezes, who replaced Dunga as coach after last year's World Cup where the five-time World Cup winners went out in the quarter-finals.

"At the moment we aren't taking our chances, but it is just a passing phase.

"They are experienced players, it's not through a lack of trying or experience."

Menezes has been criticised after his side's early exit at the Copa America - his side won just one game, against Ecuador - but he said he values a good performance above a 13th win over the Germans.

"The performance is more important than the result," he said.

"In all the games we have played, we have not been dominated by the other team.

"We have played some top teams, but we have to show something against the Germans to show that we are progressing.

"We must not allow ourselves to be caught up in the whirlpool of opinions."

Inter Milan wingback Maicon is expected to arrive in Stuttgart on Tuesday night having missed his flight from Brazil, but will not start against the Germans.

The clash will be the first meeting of the two nations since June 2005, when Brazil beat their hosts 3-2 in a Confederations Cup semi-final in Nuremberg.

Germany have not beaten Brazil since a 2-1 win in Cologne in 1993 and in 20 meetings between the teams, Germany have won just three times, with five draws and 12 defeats.

The mouth-watering match at Stuttgart's newly renovated Mercedes-Benz-Arena will be a 54,767 sell-out.

Source: AFP