English journalist and writer Jonathan Wilson, author of “The Inverted Pyramid” and “Behind the Curtains”, about tactics and football histories in Eastern Europe, understands that Brazil was a pioneer in attacking strategies.
Even if it is admitted that the game was more individual and talent resolved more before there was less space, Carlos Alberto’s goal in 1970, the most perfect collective work in the history of the World Cups, reveals that Wilson is right.
Tostão tackled, Clodoaldo dribbled, Rivellino shot, Jairzinho moved to the left and attracted full-back Facchetti, his relentless individual scorer. The movement opened the corridor for Carlos Alberto to receive the pass from Pelé.
The selection of Vinicius Junior is revealing not only of the daring selection of Tite, formerly ruthlessly nicknamed Empa-Tite. Shows attention to the need to use attacking strategies to open what is thought to be a defensive lock for Serbia.
The Serbs will be dangerous and aggressive in the transition, recovering the ball and attacking the lateral spaces, with passes from Milinkovic-Savic, escapes from Zivkovic, the right winger, and Kostic, on the left. Being careful with counterattacks also requires intelligence to open up spaces when you have the ball, a requirement that world football still makes of Brazil.
The Cup demands more from Tite than the Club World Cup demanded, because in a Chelsea vs Corinthians match, the English attack and the Brazilians defend. Globalized, the game created this inversion of values between Europe and South America.
In selections, no. So, Tite has had to evolve a lot in offensive strategies since he arrived at the national team, in 2016. He is a better coach than he was six years ago, which does not guarantee success in the Cup.
Remember that the Serbs sent Portugal to the play-offs in the European qualifiers and the Swiss did the same with Italy, absent for the second consecutive World Cup. Brazil’s group is not easy.
Hence, it is important to note the attention given to studying and trying to create problems for opponents, instead of protecting yourself from their strengths.
Of all the world champions, Brazil is the longest undefeated in debuts, since 1934. This week, Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia and Germany to Japan; in 2014, Spain fell to the Netherlands, Uruguay to Costa Rica and England to Italy; France to Senegal in 2002, Italy to Ireland in 1994.
The same hand that caresses hurts and sneaks out. Retrospect animates and imprisons. Brazil does not deal well with defeat and always treats it as embarrassment. Imagine Germany eliminated by South Korea, bottom of a bracket with Mexico and Sweden, four years ago.
Serbia should not have Mitrovic. Vlahovic will attack with Jovic, plus two accurate wingers. The defense is secure. Plenty of reasons to study them.
For this reason, Tite selects Vinicius Junior and proposes the most offensive debut since Brasil de Telê, in 1982.
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