Opinion – Renata Mendonça: Selection of Tite receives more criticism than it deserves

The smell of coffee coming out, the plate of bread and butter in front of the television, and Galvão Bueno shouting “look at the goal, look at the goal, look at the goal”. In my mind, it’s a recent memory, but on second thought, it’s not so much anymore. It’s been 20 years, and I was only 13 at the time. But how much fun I had having breakfast with my family and watching the team that would be five-time world champions on the field.

The scene was very similar last Friday (3), still without the weight of being a World Cup game. And this Monday (6) too. Inevitable not feeling nostalgic for 2002 waking up early to see Brazil playing in Korea and Japan with good performances on the field.

Against the Koreans, rout, offensive variations, beautiful game. Against the Japanese, Brazil found a team that defended with ten in the area and stopped the plays in the absence. Even so, testing an offensive quartet without a fixed striker, the selection created good opportunities in a very adverse context. Won 1-0.

It’s not a World Cup yet, but it’s a World Cup too. These are the last tweaks so that when November rolls around, the selection is ready to go for the hex.

There are people who think it’s impossible. Some people think it’s already ours. Among these, I take the middle ground. But how difficult it is to find a middle ground in opinions about the Brazilian team. He wins the World Cup qualifier running over opponents and “does nothing more than the obligation, South America is not a parameter”. He beats South Korea, and “is a weak opponent”. He summons a player from his team and “is trying to harm the club in the Brazilian competition”. He does not call up a player from his team, and “only has eyes for European football”. If Neymar plays well, they say he “hasn’t won anything yet”. If he tries to dribble and is knocked down, “he’s holding the ball too much”.

In 2002, it was probably like that too. But from that Cup I prefer to remember the smell of coffee, or the late nights of popcorn in the living room with the three R’s: Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho Gaúcho’s great goal. I even remember the vibration of Galvão’s vocal cords when he shouted the errrrrrres in that way he immortalized.

“Let life take me, life take me, I’m happy and I’m grateful for everything God has given me” was the song by Zeca Pagodinho that rocked the selection 20 years ago. The football face of that team: light, happy.

Four Cups have passed since then – including that of the “magic square” and that of the 7-1 –, and this Monday I found myself remembering 2002 without exactly going back to the past, but looking to the present and projecting the future. The team I see plays light and happy. Even if the fan does not agree with Neymar as the protagonist, with the 10 on his back, being the conductor of the team; with Paquetá by his side, Vini Junior asking for a ticket, Raphinha putting opponents to dance; without Raphael Veiga and Hulk, the “injustices” of Brazilian football.

In a few years covering the national teams (men and women), I learned that there is one thing for sure: there will always, ALWAYS be criticisms of the call-ups. The name that had to be and isn’t, the name that doesn’t make sense, but gains a chance. But that is not what defines the quality of the work of a technical committee.

You might think it’s unfair that Veiga didn’t get a chance, but are you going to say that Brazil is playing poorly without him? You may not understand Hulk’s absence, but will you defend that the team’s attack is bad?

“South America is not a parameter.” Argentina put 3 to 0 in Euro champion Italy. The same Italy drew with Germany 1-1. France lost to Denmark. Belgium was thrashed by the Netherlands. Does this mean anything about what will happen in Qatar? Absolutely nothing.

I’m not going to ask anyone to delude themselves. I keep my feet on the ground myself. But I can only say one thing: Brazil (and Neymar) is (are) more ready for the Cup (and for the possible hexa) now than it was four years ago.