Tite missed a great chance to dare and maintain that offensive scheme of the first match against Switzerland — and which worked wonderfully in the second half against Serbia.
In my opinion, he misplaced the midfield, completely changing the characteristics of the team. Fred is a good player, but he lacks creativity and plays too wide.
His first option is always the side that is close, and this leaves the team slow in thinking and without speed, affecting the main strengths of this team.
Another difficulty was Paquetá in the position Neymar plays in, because he doesn’t have the necessary agility for that position, as Rodrygo has.
With all this, the first half was boring and without chances of goal. The selection could not impose a more aggressive game dynamic. Switzerland scored well and managed to slow down the Brazilian game, making the players easy prey for the scorers.
Tite moved right into the break, putting on Rodrygo, who everyone wanted from the start. But instead of Paquetá, who spent the week with the flu.
The difficulties remained the same, with Fred insisting on playing the ball only to the side. There, Tite signed his mistake in the lineup and in the change of the interval. 13 minutes into the second half, the coach took Fred off and put on Bruno Guimarães. Why didn’t he already do this at halftime?
Raphinha didn’t do well again, and this time Richarlison didn’t participate. They left for Antony, who for me would be a starter, and Gabriel Jesus.
It took a while for the plays to come out, but there were plenty of players on the field with creativity and quick thinking. Even so, the game was convoluted until the trio that won the Champions League for Real Madrid this year approached. Casemiro left Spain for Manchester United.
Vinicius Junior is always looking for Rodrygo, because he knows how quick his reasoning is and the genius touch that boy has on his feet. He also noticed the overtaking of the number 5 and just adjusted it for Casemiro to score a great goal.
Tite has been coaching the national team for five years and knows the Brazilian football school well, not least because he was a great player. So he shouldn’t imprison the team anymore, he has to let the kids play freely.
Even without playing so well, when the team became lighter, more creative and faster, we reached the deserved winning goal.
Switzerland just rolled the game. The strategy was to slow the game down and play for a ball to try to surprise.
There is no comparison between the quality of Brazil and Switzerland: we are much more technical and skillful with the ball, but it is not easy to face teams that put a slow dynamic in the game.
Brazil is qualified for the round of 16 of the World Cup facing two average European teams, but difficult.
Tite, if Neymar recovers, put him in the starting line-up, but don’t remove Rodrygo, please. It’s a request from a fan who loves Brazilian football.
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