World Cup Group E preview: Tite revives Brazil's beautiful game

Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-01 15:20:26|Editor: Shi Yinglun
Video PlayerClose

By Michael Place

RIO DE JANEIRO, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Given their proud history and superb recent form, it comes as little surprise that Brazil will be among the favorites to win the World Cup when the tournament begins on June 14.

It seems unfathomable that two years ago the five-time world champions were in danger of missing football's showpiece event in Russia.

Their confidence still sapped by a calamitous 7-1 home loss to Germany in the semifinals of the 2014 World Cup, Brazil were languishing in sixth place in the South American qualifying group for the 2018 tournament.

A nadir was reached in June 2016 when the team coached by 1994 World Cup-winning captain Dunga were eliminated from the centenary edition of the Copa America without reaching the knockout phase.

The Brazilian football confederation (CBF) responded by sacking Dunga and replacing him with former Corinthians manager Adenor Leonardo Bacchi.

The man affectionately known as Tite vowed to recover Brazil's attacking DNA, lost under Dunga's dour stewardship, without forgoing defensive organization and discipline.

The transformation was evident in Tite's first match. The Selecao routed Ecuador 3-0 in Quito, inspired by a brace from 19-year-old debutant Gabriel Jesus. The striker's first goal was a sublime backheel flick that recalled the artistry of the country's array of past attacking greats.

It was the start of a run that saw Brazil win nine consecutive World Cup qualifiers. Along the way, they became the first team to secure a place in Russia, other than the hosts, and reclaimed the world No. 1 ranking for the first time since 2011.

But it is the way that Tite changed the Selecao's style of play that most impressed seasoned Brazil observers.

The team netted 30 goals in their final 12 qualifiers compared to 11 in the first six. Suddenly, Brazil looked flush with attacking options — a stark contrast from the threadbare Dunga era — as Neymar, Philippe Coutinho, Willian and Jesus revelled in the freedom to play their natural games.

STAR MEN

There is no more pivotal man in the Brazil squad than Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar.

The former Santos prodigy has not played since February as he recovers from surgery to repair a broken fifth metatarsal in his right foot.

However Brazil's team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar has given assurances that the 26-year-old will be in peak condition for the team's World Cup opener against Switzerland on June 17.

There is good reason why Brazil is hoping that Lasmar is right.

Neymar has made a habit of lifting his game to another level when wearing the national shirt, especially when the stakes are high.

That was evident when he scored four goals in five matches before being injured in the 2014 World Cup. In 2016, he converted the winning spot-kick in the Olympic final against Germany at a packed Maracana stadium in Rio, securing Brazil the only major trophy they had yet to win.

In 83 matches since his debut in 2010, Neymar has scored 53 goals. He is fifth on Brazil's all-time scorers' list, behind Romario (55), Zico (66), Ronaldo (67) and Pele (77).

That is not to say he is the only key figure.

Perhaps no Brazilian player has grown more in stature over the past two years than Philippe Coutinho. A bit-part player under Dunga, the former Vasco da Gama attacker is now one of the first men picked on Tite's team sheet.

He repaid the coach's faith with a series of influential performances in important World Cup qualifiers. Among them was a decisive display against Argentina in Belo Horizonte in which he scored with a trademark 30-yard drive after cutting in from the left channel.

Coutinho has been used on both flanks by Tite, who has indicated the 25-year-old could occupy a deeper, more central position during the World Cup, allowing Neymar to be deployed on the left side of attack.

There is also world-class talent at the other end of the pitch. Goalkeeper Alisson was a revelation for Roma last season, helping the team to third in Italy's Serie A standings and the semifinals of the Champions League. His reliability and shot-stopping prowess have reportedly made him a target of Real Madrid and Liverpool, though Roma have said he is not for sale.

It says something about how highly Alisson is rated by Tite that the former Internacional player is ahead of Manchester City's first-choice gloveman Ederson in Brazil's pecking order.

In midfield, Brazil boast a mix of organizers and attack-minded playmakers. Leading the former category is Casemiro an indispensable member of the Real Madrid team that won its third consecutive UEFA Champions League in May.

The former Sao Paulo player is certain to secure one of two holding midfield places in a 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 formation in Russia. Like Coutinho, the 26-year-old has grown in confidence under Tite, thriving in a role in which he is able to dictate the pace of the match and exhibit his extensive passing range.

STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES

There appears to be few cracks in this Brazil squad. In addition to boasting some of the game's biggest names, such as Neymar and Coutinho, the Selecao also boast enviable depth, with at least one world-class reserve in most positions. The goalkeeping position is a case in point, as is the contest for the central striker's position between Jesus and Liverpool's Roberto Firmino.

Tite must also decide who among Thiago Silva, Miranda and Marquinhos will fill the two center-back spots. Early indications are that former captain Silva will be relegated to the bench.

If there is one weakness, however, it as at right-back. A knee injury suffered by Dani Alves has meant that Manchester City's Danilo or Corinthians veteran Fagner are vying for the role. Danilo is expected to be Tite's first option, despite having only recently cemented a starting berth in Pep Guardiola's team. Enditem

TOP STORIES
EDITOR’S CHOICE
MOST VIEWED
EXPLORE XINHUANET
010020070750000000000000011100001372230571
彩神vl 大发app 凤凰彩票app 乐发iv游戏平台 凤凰彩票大厅 乐发彩票 乐发彩票app下载 大发彩票 乐发v官网 乐发lll 乐发lv入口 乐发iv首页 乐发ll登录 凤凰彩票大厅 乐发官网 乐发ii下载入口 乐发ll 乐发v平台 乐发v官网 乐发lll 乐发lv入口 乐发iv首页 乐发ll登录 乐发lv 乐发lll安装 乐发lv 乐发登录入口 乐发iv游戏平台 凤凰彩票登录 网信彩票 彩神 彩神彩票官方网站 彩神彩票官网首页 彩神官方app下载安卓版 凤凰彩票登录 彩神v3 凤凰彩票app下载 彩神官方app下载安卓版 网信快三 一分快3 快三彩票购彩平台 凤凰彩票官方 快3官网 网信彩票 快3app 网信彩票平台 百姓彩票平台 网信平台官网 快3app下载 百姓彩票 每日彩票 快3app 百姓彩票 每日彩票 快3app 百姓彩票平台 幸运5分彩快3 快3彩票app下载 百姓彩票网站网址 大发10分PK10 快3下载 网信彩票平台 网信平台官网 快3彩票官网app 凤凰彩票官方 彩神彩票 大发10分PK10 彩神v3 大发彩票app下载 百姓彩票网站网址 彩神购彩平台 每日彩票 官方正规快三彩票平台 彩神彩票购彩平台 百姓彩票 凤凰彩票购彩平台 凤凰彩票app下载 彩神官方app下载安卓版 网信快三 一分快3 快三彩票购彩平台 凤凰彩票官方 彩神彩票 大发10分PK10 彩神v3 凤凰彩票登录 乐发lv 乐发∨Il 百姓彩票网站网址 乐发彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 乐发lll安装 百姓彩票网站网址 凤凰彩票app下载 大发10分PK10 乐发2 乐发app 凤凰彩票 大发彩票app 乐发登录入口 乐发ll登录 乐发v官网 乐发官网 大发彩票app下载 凤凰彩票购彩平台 彩神彩票 官方正规快三彩票平台 一分快3 百姓彩票网站网址 凤凰彩票app下载 大发10分PK10 乐发2 乐发app 凤凰彩票 大发彩票app 乐发登录入口 乐发ll登录 乐发v官网 乐发官网 大发彩票app下载 凤凰彩票购彩平台 彩神彩票 官方正规快三彩票平台 1分快三平台 百姓彩票平台 凤凰彩票登录 幸运5分彩快3 彩神 乐发彩票 乐发 大发彩票 乐发iv游戏平台 乐发lv 乐发lll 乐发ii下载入口 乐发彩票官方网站 凤凰彩票官方网站 凤凰快3 彩神彩票官网首页 1分快三平台 百姓彩票平台 凤凰彩票登录 幸运5分彩快3 彩神 乐发彩票 乐发 大发彩票 乐发iv游戏平台 乐发lv 凤凰彩票app 乐发app 网信彩票平台 网信彩票平台 乐发iv游戏平台 凤凰彩票app 乐发lv 乐发彩票app下载 凤凰彩票app 网信彩票平台 乐发彩票app下载 乐发lv 乐发app 大发彩票安卓下载 大发彩票安卓下载 大发彩票 乐发彩票app下载 网信彩票平台 乐发iv游戏平台 彩神彩票 乐发彩票中心 极速快3彩票平台 人人快三凤凰 大发彩票app 大发彩票大全 乐发彩票 彩神彩票官方网站 乐发app 酷天堂彩票平台 凤凰彩票app下载 凤凰彩票大厅 凤凰彩票app 极速快3彩票平台 凤凰彩票 凤凰快3 乐发ll官网 乐发彩票中心 正规快三送彩金平台 凤凰彩票官方 乐发ll 乐发 网信彩票 彩神彩票 彩神彩票官方网站 大发彩票app 网信彩票用户 百姓快三 百姓彩票平台 乐发lv 乐发彩票app下载 彩信平台 网信彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 乐发∨Il 人人快三凤凰 凤凰彩票 凤凰快3 乐发ll官网 乐发彩票中心 正规快三送彩金平台 凤凰彩票官方 乐发ll 乐发 网信彩票 彩神彩票 彩神彩票官方网站 人人快三凤凰 乐发彩票 彩神彩票 乐发iv游戏平台 乐发彩票 大发彩票中心 凤凰彩票登录 凤凰彩票app 彩神彩票 大发彩票 乐发ll 大发彩票app 凤凰快3 凤凰彩票 彩神彩票 乐发ll 凤凰彩票 乐发lll 凤凰彩票大厅 网信彩票 彩神彩票 乐发lv 快盈彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 盈彩网投资平台 大发官网 一分时时彩 乐发lv 快3平台 凤凰快3 乐发ll 全民彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 百姓彩票 乐发彩票 大发彩票 极速快3 乐发app 大发官网 乐发lll 快3平台 凤凰快3 乐发ll 全民彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 百姓彩票 乐发彩票 大发彩票 极速快3 乐发app 彩神iv 大发彩票app 大小单双平台 一分pk10 乐发lv 快盈彩票 乐发官网 快彩彩票 百姓彩票 凤凰彩票大厅 网信彩票 乐发彩票中心 网信快3 乐发 彩神xl 三分快3 大发彩票 大发官网 乐发lll 快3平台 凤凰快3 乐发ll 全民彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 百姓彩票 乐发彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 大发彩票 乐发 分分快3 彩神vl 55世纪 55世纪 凤凰快3 乐发彩票 乐发lv welcome凤凰彩票 乐发ll 1分快3 彩神 彩神ll 1分快3官网 1分快3的平台 welcome凤凰彩票 三分快3 彩神x 彩神vl 凤凰彩票 彩神xl 大发彩票 凤凰彩票大厅 乐发官网 乐发ll 乐发lll 乐发lv 大发彩票app 大发彩票 乐发 乐发彩票 乐发彩票中心 凤凰快3 乐发彩票 彩神xl 腾讯快3 大发彩票 彩神xl 大发彩票 乐发彩票 大发彩票app 快3平台 乐发 1分快3 乐发彩票 彩神x 凤凰快3 彩神xl 彩吧助手 大发彩票app 快3平台 大发排列3 彩神iv 彩神vl 乐发IV 彩神x 一分pk10 大发排列3 乐发lv 快3彩票 乐发app下载 三分快3 快三平台助手 乐发彩票ll 彩神iv 乐发lll下载 盈彩网投资平台 乐发Ⅲ 一分pk10 凤凰彩票 乐发Vll 大发官网 乐发ll 大发彩票 乐发1 凤凰快3 彩神vl 乐发lx 百姓彩票 乐发VI 彩神x 乐发IV 极速快3 乐发 凤凰快3 网信快3 乐发lv 快3彩票 乐发app下载 三分快3 快三平台助手 乐发彩票ll 彩神iv 乐发lll下载 盈彩网投资平台 乐发Ⅲ 凤凰彩票大厅 乐发lv 乐发lv 乐发lv 凤凰彩票 大发彩票 大发彩票 凤凰彩票 乐发lv 凤凰彩票 凤凰彩票 乐发lv 乐发ll 凤凰彩票app下载 凤凰彩票 凤凰彩票 乐发lv 乐发ll 凤凰彩票app下载 凤凰彩票 凤凰彩票 乐发lv 彩神x 乐发 乐发ll 极速快3 乐发lv 乐发彩票中心 快3彩票 凤凰彩票大厅 彩神x 凤凰彩票app 分分快3 网信彩票 网盟彩票 凤凰彩票 百姓彩票 乐发 快彩彩票 乐发彩票 快3平台 百姓彩票 大小单双平台 凤凰快3 彩神xl 一分pk10 乐发lv 三分快3 大发彩票 乐发彩票 快3平台 百姓彩票 大小单双平台 凤凰快3 彩神xl 一分pk10 乐发lv 三分快3 大发彩票 极速快3 乐发ll 网信彩票 乐发lv 全民彩票 凤凰彩票app下载 快盈彩票 大发彩票app 大发官网 凤凰彩票 彩神iv 大发彩票 网信快3 凤凰彩票 百姓彩票