Brazil and his challenge in Russia 2018
The Fifa World Cup that will take place in Russia this year is just around the corner. Only a few months separate us from the most important soccer event for which some countries, apart from the host, have already secured a spot. There is no doubt that one of the key teams in any global soccer competition is Brazil, the maximum leader when it comes to winning the cup and also one of the countries with the biggest amount of individual potential historically. Truthful to their achievements, the team secured its spot for the tournament, in which they will be trying to end with their sixteen years of bad luck, which include the elimination against France in 2006, the wreck against the Dutch in 2010 and the unthinkable loss against Germany in 2104.
With this last memory in mind, almost as painful as the Maracanazo, 67 years ago, the Brazilians aspire to take the lead in Russia. They have a team full of stars, with a player like Neymar, who comes this time with full awareness of his responsibilities as the leader of the team that has won five times the World Cup. To join him in this endeavor, he has some of his teammates for the PSG, like Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Dani Alves and Lucas Moura. There are also other star players from other European teams like Casemiro and Marcelo, from Real Madrid and Paulinho and Philippe Coutinho, from the FC Barcelona.
With Tite as their manager since June 2016, their game has gone back to its origins, completely forgotten under Dunga’s domain. The former midfielder was present in the defeat against Chile opening the qualifiers and in the followings ties against Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. These countries would be later defeated by Brazil, who, when playing with them, got a global score of ten goals in favor to one against. Tite was responsible for each one of these vindications for the team, in which we could feel the joy and the fantasy, undeniable characteristics of the Brazilian game that the world was expecting to see. The 56 years old TD based his game on the touching of the ball and use of the attack as the best defensive weapon, a strategy that had him tune up with the players and the audience.
With the Cup in sight, Tite is still trying out new players that do not have a spot guaranteed in the team that will represent their country. So far, their base is identified, with Dani Alves, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Miranda, Marcelo, Filipe Luis and David Luiz (not being considered the same way as the others but still) to play the defense, while to play midfielders he has Casemiro, Paulinho, Coutinho, Fernandinho and William in mind. Neymar is the one that has his place secured as forward of the team, followed by Gabriel Jesus and Roberto Firminho, although other names might come up before the tournament. In that case, we have Alex Sandro and Douglas Costa, both from Juventus but the last one, being considered as a revolutionary player for his amazing skills. Lucas Lima, Renato Augusto or even Luan could make it to the draw but it will all depend on their level of the game until the end of the season. Regardless of the other players that could make it to the team, the most important thing for Brazil is the recovery of their unique style and the stabilization of a united team in which everyone understands the role they play. We should not be surprised if, with these tools at hand, they return to their glory days in Russia.
