Casemiro made a point of stating that Daniel Alves is not at the World Cup for pleasure. Even if he traveled just for his leadership role, he wouldn’t be sightseeing. Tite called him up because he thought he was important, sometimes on the field, sometimes in the environment.
Doesn’t mean he can’t stay on the bench, with Militão playing.
It depends on the maturity of the coach, who seems to have brought lessons learned in Russia to Qatar. In a seven-game tournament, observation needs to be sharper, and decisions must be very quick and accurate.
It goes for Neymar’s replacement.
No one seems very worried in the press and fans, because Neymar will return in the round of 16. It will be like this as long as Brazil qualifies, and it is not worth forgetting that the team has faced Switzerland twice in World Cups and tied both, in 1950, in Pacaembu, and in 2018, in Rostov.
The decision on Neymar’s replacement is very serious, to the point that Tite has considered three hypotheses: advancing Paquetá; climb Everton Ribeiro; bet on Rodrygo.
The verb used with the Real Madrid striker is explained by the fact that he was never in the national team’s starting line-up. He has played seven times, scored one goal, is 21 years old, second youngest of the 26 squad, six months older than Martinelli.
Everton Ribeiro is the third oldest, the only one who has never played in Europe. It seems like a geographic bias. Saudi Arabia beat Argentina with eight starters from Al Hilal, well… But Mexico has eight in the Mexican league, twice as many as in Russia, and runs the risk of being out of the second phase for the first time in 28 years .
Rodrygo is 12 years younger than Everton Ribeiro and much more experienced. Only one player has been involved in more Real Madrid goals this season than him: Vinicius Junior. The former red-black has six goals and three passes in the Spanish Championship, Rodrygo is not in the starting lineup, scored four times and provided three assists.
It is true that Tite is delighted with the quality of Everton Ribeiro. The question is whether being the best on the pitch in the Copa do Brasil and Libertadores finals equals a World Cup.
Scoring twice in three minutes and turning a Champions League semi-final against Manchester City, as Rodrygo did, makes sure he can play well against Switzerland.
Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo played better than Neymar last season and are at the same pace this season.
There is the tactical issue. Paquetá in advance would serve as a midfielder, Rodrygo as a striker. One spins the ball, the other accelerates towards the goal. Neymar, well, he does both.
The position of Pelé and Zico was called spearhead. It could be number 10 or 8, depending on the team’s positioning at the time the jerseys were numbered in the 1940s.
Rodrygo is that, the striker. What three decades ago was called an attacking midfielder.
Ponta-de-lança is much better and doesn’t create a grammatical confusion, as it is neither a noun nor an adverb.
The tendency is to advance Paquetá.
Rodrygo is a striker. They are the right word and decision.
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