While Brazil were struggling in their pursuit of a second scorer other than Neymar, an out of favour Robinho kept the scoreline ticking with his admirable runs and touches not in a competitive circuit but in the beach of Santos with his friends.
Robinho is currently enjoying a vacation as his club AC Milan have permitted their players a holiday. After arriving at his home, the 30-year old forward alongside his family members went to the beach. On Thursday he arranged a football match with the available players, including some trainees of Santos’s young school. Taking four plastic stools from a shop he set up a field with two goals at each end and played football with the boys.
In between, he stopped to take pictures with fans but soon turned his attention to the game. All the while, the former Manchester City striker was in good form as his opponents struggled to contain him. The boys on the other hand were excited having gotten the opportunity to play with their Santos idol.
Brazil head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is already under fire for his decision to select Fred ahead of Robinho. The other forwards in the squad, Hulk and Jo, are yet to produce a match-winning performance. Leaving out experienced duo Ronaldinho and Kaka might not have caused a stir as their best days are behind them but the exclusion of Robinho added to the disappointment of the Brazilian fans. Furthermore, the omissions of Miranda and Felipe Luis, both from Atletico Madrid, were also surprising. The fans are also complaining about the exclusions of Liverpool pair Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Leiva, who both had a great club season. Moreover, Lucas Moura, a talented attacking midfielder and winger at French champions Paris Saint Germain, was also inexplicably left home.
Robinho however declined to comment over his exclusion and remained tight-lipped. If Brazil fail to spark against Colombia in the quarterfinals, Team Selacao will face a barrage of criticism over the non-selection of several talented players.