WROCLAW, Poland: Next World Cup hosts Brazil breezed past reigning Asian champions Japan 4-0 in a friendly here yesterday with two goals from Neymar and one each from Paulinho and Kaka.
Corinthians midfielder Paulinho beat Japan’s keeper Eiji Kawashima 12 minutes into the game with a low shot from 20 metres.
Santos striker Neymar then struck in the 26th minute, blasting home a penalty awarded after Yasuyuki Konno took down Kaka in the box.
He added another goal just after the break with a weak shot deflected into the net by the Japanese defence.
And Kaka made it 4-0 in the 76th minute, bearing down on Kawashima before unleashing a left-footed shot.
Kaka, Real Madrid’s star midfielder, was playing only his second international since the 2010 World Cup in South Africa - having netted last week on his comeback against Iraq.
Brazil’s coach Mano Menezes said: “We played well tactically, the team was good and I’m very happy with the performance.
“Japan... are a very strong team, they kept the ball a long time, but we managed to take it away from them.”
Menezes dismissed allegations Brazil were playing defensive football with him at the helm -- a claim his team refuted by scoring ten goals in their last two games.
“We know it’s not true,” Menezes said, adding that quality mattered more than goals.
“And I’m happy the team plays well no matter who’s against us,” he added. Japan’s Italian coach Alberto Zaccheroni, who like his Menezes was appointed after the last World Cup, said he could only be happy with the experience of playing against such a great team.
AFP
