With Mexico creating more chances and getting forward easily, Brazil had to improvise. Both teams played similar 4-3-3 formations but it was the Mexicans who had the measure of Tite’s side at first.
So when Mexico had the ball, Willian tucked in on the right to make it a 4-4-2 with Neymar and Gabriel Jesus forming the first line of defence. It was only when Brazil won the ball back that Neymar drifted wide again.
However, without Marcelo in the lineup, Neymar struggled on the right side. Usually, Marcelo and Coutinho form triangles with Neymar but that was not the case with Filipe Luis. With both full-backs on a leash to avoid getting outnumbered on counter-attacks, Neymar had to do it all on his own.
There were a few moments of brilliance from the PSG forward when he tried to get past Mexican right-back Edson Alvarez but he was always eventually crowded out. They also looked to foul Neymar when he had the ball, a strategy Tite was not at all impressed with as he gesticulated on the sidelines.
Brazil created a few chances – especially from distance – but goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa was up to the task in the first half making numerous saves to remind fans of that 2014 encounter where Brazil were held to a 0-0 draw thanks to his heroics.