The Selecao have had a tough few years in the recent past – what was supposed to be a return to glory as they hosted in 2014 FIFA World Cup turned out to be a national humiliation as they exited the tournament courtesy of a 7-1 thrashing from Germany, which was followed by a suprise exit at the hands of Peru in the Copa America Centenario.
The 2016 Rio Olympics were supposed to be Brazil’s great renewal as a much-fancied, Neymar-led side earned them their first Olympic gold medal in history. However, with two 0-0s to kick off their campaign, even if Brazil are to succeed, there is a long way to go for the national side.
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Clearly, Tite has his work cut out for him and has a lot to do to bring the glory-days back to Brazil.
1) Give Brazil a cohesive football identity
Brazil have gone from the most feared team in the world to also-rans for the Copa America in the matter of a decade. However, it is the disappearance of jogo bonito from the Selecao’s footballing style that has caused the nation greater heartache, rather than a loss of success.
Indeed, many Brazilians were circumspect about Dunga’s appointement after the 2014 FIFA World Cup fiasco, as he was famed for his ‘dour’ style of football. The former World Cup winner was caught between a rabid press that clamoured for a return to the expansive style of days gone by and his own convictions, resulting in a national side that looked bereft of ideas when attacking.
Tite has a monumental task in convincing the players that play throughout Europe and back in Brazil to conform to a singular style – although he managed to do that in both spells at Corinthians, which were wildly contrasting in their styles of play – the 2012 side that won the FIFA Club World Cup sat deep and thrived on the counter attack, while the 2015 vintage that won the Brazilian Campeonato had a dominating, attack-first style of play.
Therein lies the dilemma for Tite, he has evolved as a manager after spells observing Arsene Wenger and Carlo Ancelotti at Arsenal and Real Madrid, but will his new ‘European’ brand of football find acceptance in Brazil?
2) Relieve Neymar of the captaincy
Neymar Jr. is Brazil’s great big hope – recall the national distress that surrounded the Barcelona forward’s injury during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. While the 24-year-old has shown signs of maturity, such as stepping up for Barcelona in Leo Messi’s two-month absence, he is still prone to bouts of petulance.
One can hardly blame Neymar though, the pressure on him is intense – not to mention that Dunga annointed him with the crown of thorns as Brazil’s captain. It’s visible when Neymar takes to the pitch for Brazil – he tries to do too much, and he tries to do it alone – witness the first two games of Brazil’s 2016 Olympic campaign.
Brazil aren’t short of experienced leaders to take the armband, indeed one of the best candidates has been frozen out of the squad – Thiago Silva. Giving the PSG man the armband can solve two problems – the side are less likely to capitulate when things go wrong – with Silva a calm and forceful leader (notwithstanding his earlier breakdown), while freeing Neymar from what is quickly becoming a burden.
Without the armband constraining him, Neymar will be free to be the ‘luxury’ player Brazil have – the one who can spark moments of magic that can win a game for the Selecao, while not being the only hope upon which things rest.
3) Settle the Brazilian backline
Danil Alves, Gil, Miranda and Filipe Luis started as Brazil’s backline in their last Copa America Centenario game which was a shock 1-0 defeat to Peru. It’s hardly the most intimidating backline, despite many of these players being relatively successful for their clubs in in Europe and in Brazil.
Brazil’s Olympic side, while struggling upfront, also managed to show Marquinhos as a promising understudy for Thiago Silva and David Luiz. The trio play together for the same club (PSG), and ought to be reinstated in the Brazilian lineup, with the constant chopping and changing under Dunga’s reign proving to be detrimental for Brazil’s back four.
Much like Andrea Pirlo and Patrice Evra in recent years, Dani Alves will drink from Juventus’ fountain of youth to find himself playing like a 25-year-old again. Tite has to decide if he wants to revert to Brazil’s tradition of lateral fullbacks, for which Marcelo is perfect or opt for a more European-style fullback in Filipe Luis.
Either way, Tite is famed for clear ideas that he sticks to – and he ought to succeed in moulding a Brazil backline that could become famous for its stinginess.
4) Harness the youthful talents breaking through
Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel ‘Gabigol’ Barbosa are probably the most hyped footballers to come out of Brazil after Neymar Jr. Manchester City yielded to the promotion surrouding the youngsters and paid a staggering £32 million for Jesus – who will remain with Palmeiras until December, 2016. Gabigol could quite possibly command a similar fee, with Barcelona and Real Madrid reportedly interested.
Given the fees involved, many Brazilians have mistakenly believed the future of the Selecao is bright.This ignores one major problem – the youngsters often look unsure of their presence in the Brazilian side. The Olympic side’s manager, Rogerio Micale asked Jesus to play upfront in an unfamiliar role as opposed to his style of dropping deep for Palmeiras, while Gabigol became a peripheral figure with Neymar constantly asking for the ball on the opposite wing.
Tite has to make the Brazilian side a far more equitable one – as these youngsters are gradually drafted into the senior side, they ought not to be sacrificed at the altar of Neymar – instead, the senior side could do with a fresh dose of youthful impishness, with Jesus and Gabigol given free reign to express their talents and not be saddled with the burden of bearing the hopes of a nation.
5) Humility to Brazil’s footballing psyche
This is probably one of Tite’s biggest obstacles – for a nation that has won 5 FIFA World Cups in his history, much of the Brazilian populace, the media and even some of the players, consider it a divine right for Brazil to stand atop the world’s footballing pyramid.
Cafu stood in the position 14 years ago, when Brazil were crowned World Champions in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, but 14 years is a long time in football. Indeed, Brazil struggle to make a dent even in their continental competitions, which used to be their bread and butter.
Thus, it is encouraging to hear that one of Tite’s first words upon taking charge of Brazil was him considering the very real possibility that Brazil could not qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Humility has been rewarded in football the last few seasons – with Atletico Madrid going far in Europe, Leicester City being crowned EPL Champions and Chile winning two successive Copa Americas.
Tite is naturally humble himself, as can be deciphered from his words – “In this new era, I have to reinvent as a coach, to follow the teams that will face Brazil. I'm no demagogue. It is an important moment, it is a moment of renewal, is a moment where I have to review my work, to adapt as an international manager, not club, and win these next two games. But I also see that there are quality players emerging. With a star player, which is Neymar, but with very large potential to grow together as a group.”
Hopefully, the Selecao are moulded in their manager’s image – and then success will surely follow.
