After the Newcastle United ace admitted that he needed to ‘improve’ his form on the international stage, this was a performance which raised more questions than it provided answers.
Bruno Guimaraes endured a difficult evening as Brazil crept past Ecuador last Friday.
A performance far removed from his Newcastle United pomp, and one that sparked plenty of introspection from a man who may be feeling the pressure with Joao Gomes and Magpies team-mate Joelinton breathing down his neck for a starting place.
“The performance can be better, we know that. I have to improve, as does the whole team in general,” Guimaraes said, via Terra. “We have to improve a lot, especially me.”
This, however, wasn’t even more of the same.
Guimaraes, rated 4/10 by Brazilian website Zero Hora following Tuesday’s shock defeat at Paraguay, was hooked at half-time in the second of two September fixtures, having been left chasing shadows in the build-up to a stunning early strike from Diego Gomez.
Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes under fire in Brazil
“He was dribbled by Diego Gomez in Paraguay’s goal,” Zero Hora write, Newcastle’s talismanic number 39 also struggling to exert his usual influence in an attacking sense.
“He did not help in the creation (of chances).”
For South American expert Tim Vickery, the blame lies not only with Guimaraes but with Selecao coach Dorival Junior too.
It’s telling that West Ham playmaker Lucas Paqueta and Wolves’ new £21 million signing Andre Trindade also struggled as part of a tactical set-up that serves only to create a Brazil team far worse than the sum of it’s parts.
“The midfield just isn’t working,” Vickery tells talkSPORT. “Part of that is individual. Poor old Bruno Guimaraes is just having a nightmare.
“He’s never done it for Brazil and he’s the one who’s really coming under fire now. He didn’t block the shot from Gomes, he’s doing nothing with the ball at his feet.
“Also, I think the coach is out of his depth. At the moment, they look an absolute shambles.”
While Guimaraes struggled, this was a night to remember for another member of Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United squad.
A clearly delighted Miguel Almiron started as Paraguay record their first win over the five-time World Champions for 16 years.
A famous win for Miguel Almiron’s Paraguay
With more defeats to their name (four) than they have wins (three), Brazil’s World Cup qualification campaign is certainly not going to plan. The Selecao are currently fifth in the table, a colossal eight points behind arch rivals Argentina.
“You’re fighting to give your best and that doesn’t always happen. We lacked a lot today. I’m responsible for that, I don’t want to penalise any player,” sighs Dorival, keen to avoid laying the blame directly at the door of Guimaraes and co, via Lance.
“We need to work and we understand that we need a lot more to reach the level we all want. It’s not simple, it’s not easy, but we have to step up so that we can quickly find that path.
“We started the match well, controlling the game until we conceded the goal,” adds the under-fire head coach, who’s win rate in the national dugout stands at a lowly 40 per cent.
“We lost our way a lot at that moment (when Paraguay scored) and lost the first half without getting close to the opponent’s goal. So, that has a big impact on a match.
“In 30 or 35 minutes, we did very little, attacked very little. We paid a very high price for that.”
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