Coutinho seeks to embrace his chance in the national team after a good start at Aston Villa

Surprised in the last call-up of coach Tite, Philippe Coutinho will have the chance to wear the shirt of the Brazilian team after more than a year. Trying to get back to his best form, the 29-year-old midfielder hopes to seize the opportunity and stay in a group he hasn’t been called to.

This Thursday (17), at 18:00 (Brasília time), he should reach his 63rd game for the national team. Out of it since October 2020, he returns in the clash with Ecuador, in Quito, for the World Cup Qualifiers — the duel will be shown by Globo and SporTV.

Remembered at the beginning of the qualifying tournament for the World Cup in Qatar, Coutinho scored in the 5-0 victory over Bolivia and also started in the 4-2 triumph over Peru. After that, it was no longer used by Tite.

The carioca was called up at the end of 2021, because the coach could not trigger players who played in Brazil, in the case of Éverton Ribeiro. In the games against Colombia and Argentina, however, he did not leave the bench.

Now the situation is different. Encouraged by a good start at Aston Villa, in England, the athlete returned to the selection most valued by the captain.

“Coutinho is a player with important frame and conclusion. He’s been recovering his best level,” said Tite.

The period away from the selection coincided with a moment of little prestige at Barcelona. He arrived at the club with great expectations, in 2018, after standing out at Liverpool – the club for which he scored 54 goals in 201 appearances –, but he did not deliver what was expected.

On loan to Bayern in 2019, he returned in 2020. He returned without establishing himself as a starter, although he was in the Champions League champion squad, and again he did not get excited about the Catalan team.

Seeking to regain the prestige he once had and the football he already showed he was capable of playing, the Brazilian decided to return to England. He is now at Aston Villa and is coached by Steven Gerrard, his teammate from Liverpool.

It was announced by the new club on 7 January 2021 and announced by Tite on the 13th. Two days after the call-up, he debuted as a second-half substitute and scored in a 2-2 draw with Manchester United. On the last day 22, he started for the first time and celebrated the 1-0 triumph over Everton.

Remembered by Tite again, less than a year away from the Cup, Coutinho gets a valuable chance to try to get his place in Qatar. Brazil is already classified, which will allow the coach to promote tests and make adjustments until the final call-up.

Lucas Paquetá, who has played as a starter in the frame, is suspended from the duel with Ecuador. He can return in the game against Paraguay, next Tuesday (1st), in Belo Horizonte. Before that, the old owner of the position tries to show service.