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Brazil coach Mano
Menezes offered a fascinating glimpse into the future with the 2-0
friendly win over the U.S. — and if first impressions count, the team
should be entertaining hosts in the 2014 World Cup.

It remains to be
seen how many of those who started at the New Meadowlands stadium on
Tuesday will be in the team that takes the field for the opening game
in Brazil in four years time but the new faces on show certainly played
like they were capable of performing on the biggest stage.

None shone more
than 18-year-old Neymar, a player who many in Brazil had urged Menezes’
predecessor Dunga to take to South Africa this year.

The Santos forward,
sporting a spiky Mohican haircut, began on the left wing but floated
into the middle when the space opened up and also switched flanks to
keep a largely bewildered U.S defence even more befuddled.

The slightly built
Neymar’s superbly taken header to open the scoring was an illustration
that as well as superb control and energetic pace, he also has the
striker’s ability to convert chances however they may fall to him.

Nothing is certain
in football but few would bet against Neymar being a well known name,
with one of Europe’s top clubs, by the time the next World Cup comes
around and he certainly is not short of confidence.

“I had some nerves
early on, with this being my debut,” he told Reuters, “But it got
easier when the ball began to roll and of course the goal settled me,”
he said.

Likewise it is hard
to imagine playmaker Paulo Henrique Ganso not going on from his
impressive debut to make his mark on the international scene.

He may look like a
scrawny schoolkid but Ganso, another from the current outstanding crop
at Santos, put the most famous shirt in football — the gold and green
one with number 10 on the back — and delivered a performance that was
as notable for its calm composure as for its technical proficiency.

Real Madrid’s Kaka,
out with injury, is the current owner of Pele’s old jersey, but he will
need to get back to his very best to fend off the challenge from Ganso
who is very much an enabling playmaker, prompting others and opening up
spaces.

But he also possesses a wicked shot as he showed when he hit the post from 25 metres out against the Americans.

“The (number 10)
jersey is certainly a heavy one in terms of responsibility but it is up
to me now to go away and work hard and try to earn another call-up,” he
said.

With Pato close to
his lively best in attack, after a season plagued by injury and Robinho
showing signs of his quality as well, Menezes’ new team, featuring just
four players who were in South Africa, already looks to be taking shape
and certainly has indicated it’s character.

“Personality is not something you can really give a team,” said Menezes after the game.

“Either you have it or you don’t. This performance was a sign that they have it,” he said.