Coaches are fundamental, strategies are important, but, with rare exceptions, the teams that have the best players win, which does not mean that the teams with the most individual talent are always the winners. Football has reasons and secrets that go far beyond our superb wisdom. We know more about its effects than its genesis.
Individually, Palmeiras, Atlético and Flamengo dominate Brazilian football. That’s why they are the best. Corinthians, with the good signings, is not yet, but it could be the fourth.
Palmeiras has an excellent coach, with a cool head and warm heart, capable of changing strategies and lineups according to the opponent.
Palmeiras doesn’t have a Hulk, a Gabigol, but they have the best goalkeeper (Weverton) and the best defender (Gustavo Gómez) who work in Brazil, as well as the best attacking midfielder (Raphael Veiga), among Brazilians who work in the country. Apart from Weverton, Gustavo Gómez and Raphael Veiga, Palmeiras have two good players of the same level in all other positions.
On Thursday (17), Palmeiras and Corinthians, led by two Portuguese coaches, face each other. Palmeiras are more ready collectively. The new coach of Corinthians announces that he will put pressure on and try to control the ball and the game.
Both teams are looking for strikers. As Palmeiras prioritizes counterattacks, when facing strong opponents, the fast Rony has been important in the achievements. Roger Guedes, at Corinthians, is out of place, because, in addition to not being a classic striker, he is not an attacker who moves, who facilitates and opens spaces for his teammates. He is excellent, a dribbler and quick to play from left to center.
Until years ago, whenever a Brazilian team lost and played badly, they asked to hire a number 10, to solve all the problems. Now, the fashion is to ask for a number 9, to push the ball into the nets. Some great teams in world football don’t have a number 9.
Liverpool’s top scorer is Salah, who plays from right to centre. Manchester City, who on Monday (14th) did not score goals, do not have a striker. Everyone, from the middle to the front, scores goals. The team does not have the shirt 9 or the false 9. Bayern, with Lewandowski, and other teams organize all the plays for the ball to arrive inside the area for the 9 to score.
The 1970 team, one of the great teams in history, did not have a classic number 9. Zagallo, after trying out two great scorers, Dario and Roberto, asked me, close to the World Cup, if I could play in front of Pelé and Jairzinho, without coming back so much to receive the ball, as I did at Cruzeiro and in the Qualifiers, with Saldanha, when I was the team’s top scorer. I replied: “No problem. I’ll play as Evaldo, striker for Cruzeiro.” He moved forward, opened up spaces and facilitated my arrival and that of Dirceu Lopes, two attacking midfielders, who arrived from behind and scored.
In the current call-up, Tite called five forwards from the sides (Vinicius Junior, Raphinha, Antony, Rodrygo and Martinelli), in addition to three attacking midfielders, from the center (Neymar, Coutinho and Paquetá), and only one striker (Richarlison), who played in the selection more often from the sides than from the center. Does Tite intend to try Paquetá further on, forming a duo with Neymar? That way, Paquetá has been playing well at Lyon. It will be one more option, among many.
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