Adenor Leonardo Bacchi, better known as Tite, took over the Brazil National Team after Dunga’s second stint at the helm ended in yet another tournament failure after the Copa Centenario 2016.
Many, including the great Luis Ronaldo, hailed his appointment, and for good reason. Having won the Copa Libertadores and even a FIFA Club World Cup, many pundits felt Tite should have been given the job after the debacle at the 2014 World Cup. Better late than never.
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His first squad announcement was met with widespread criticism as he recalled Paulinho (now playing in the Chinese league with Guangzhou Evergrande) and omitted many regulars like Fernandinho and Diego Alves.
He explained that he selected the most in-form players to represent the national team and his squad selection has paid dividends. In his very first competitive international, Tite made history by breaking a 33-year-old hoodoo haunting the Selecao of not having won in the high-altitude Ecuadorian capital of Quito (competitive matches).
The victory came in style, with Neymar and Gabriel Jesus stealing the show, inspiring Brazil to a 3-0 win.
| No | Year | Tournament | Scoreline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1983 | Copa America | Ecuador 0-1 Brazil |
| 2 | 1993 | World Cup Qualifier | Ecuador 0-0 Brazil |
| 3 | 2001 | World Cup Qualifier | Ecuador 1-0 Brazil |
| 4 | 2004 | World Cup Qualifier | Ecuador 1-0 Brazil |
| 5 | 2009 | World Cup Qualifier | Ecuador 1-1 Brazil |
| 6 | 2016 | World Cup Qualifier | Ecuador 0-3 Brazil |
The last victory for Brazil in Quito came in 1983 when Roberto Dinamite scored in a narrow 1-0 win. Brazil went winless for 33 years hence, even the golden generation that had Romario and Bebeto (which won the 1994 World Cup) and the Ronaldo-Ronaldinho-Rivaldo trio (who won the 2002 World Cup), failing in the high altitudes of Quito. Altitude has always been an issue in South American football, with many pundits believing that players in Bolivia and Ecuador have an undue advantage, as they are used to high-altitude conditions.
Continental heavyweights Brazil and Argentina have regularly complained about the hazards of playing on pitches with low oxygen. Between 1973 and 2005, Argentina went winless in Bolivia, even though it boasted of players like Kempes and Maradona, who won two World Cups and two Copas in the same time frame.
One recent shocking defeat is the 2010 match between Bolivia and Argentina, where a Lionel Messi lead Albiceleste lost 6-1 in La Paz. Players and coaches complained that a lack of oxygen hampered their performance.
| No | Name of Stadium | Location | Altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Estadio Hernano Siles | La Paz, Bolivia | 3,637 m |
| 2 | Estadio Olimpico Atahualpa | Quito, Ecuador | 2,782 m |
FIFA even tried a temporary ban on high-altitude stadia in 2007, citing concerns about players’ health and ‘unfair’ advantage to acclimatise local players. The ban was lifted in 2008 after meeting stern resistance from the Bolivian, Ecuadorian and Colombian football federations.
It is all the more laudable that Tite pulled off this victory as the playing conditions and history was stacked against him. He sent out a midfield with physical players like Real Madrid’s Casemiro, Paulinho and Renato Augusto, who made sure Brazil’s more lithe, light-weight attackers like Neymar and Gabriel Jesus were not bullied by the well-built Ecuadorians.
Tite is well known for his well-drilled defences and it was on show in Quito, as Marquinhos and Miranda were imperious, snuffing out even half-chances that the Ecuadorians created.
It took 71 minutes for Brazil to break the deadlock, but a persistent run from debutant Gabriel Jesus resulted in a penalty after Ecuadorian goalkeeper Dominguez fouled him inside the box.
Neymar stepped up to score the opener. New Manchester City signing Jesus was in scintillating form, scoring the team’s second goal with a close-range finish after good work by Marcelo down the left wing.
This was his first goal in Selecao colours, after a sensational Gold medal winning campaign at the Rio Olympics with the Brazilian under-23 side.
He capped the victory with a breathtaking long-range effort to ensure a decisive victory. Tite made history and how! 3-0 and the jinx broken! Things are starting to look good again for Brazilian football!
Final Score: Ecuador 0 – Brazil 3
Ecuador: Dominguez, Achilier, Walter Ayovi, Mina, Paredes, Noboa, Montero (Arroyo 73), Gruezo (Gaibor 82), Bolanos, Enner Valencia, Felipe Caicedo (Ibarra 67)
Brazil: Alisson, Marquinhos, Junior Marcelo, Dani Alves, Miranda, Casemiro, Renato Augusto, Gabriel Jesus, Paulinho, Willian (Coutinho 61), Neymar
Goals: Neymar 72”, Gabriel Jesus 87”, 90”
