Will we send Tite off with a title at the end of the year? With the first call-up of the year coming in a few days, and the previous thread covering almost 4 years and 1k replies, it's time for a thread focused on the WC year itself. Previous thread link: https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/seleção-general-discussion-2018-and-beyond.2085202/ Upcoming matches and events (Brazilian time): Jan 27, @ Ecuador WCQ 18h Feb 1, vs Paraguay WCQ 21h30 Mar 24, vs Chile WCQ Mar 29, @Bolivia WCQ April 3 World Cup Draw! May 30 - Jun 14, 3 friendlies TBD Sep 19 - 27, 2 friendlies TBD October: Convocação para a Copa do Mundo November 21 - December 18 World Cup 2022
Working from home has given me more time to nerd out a little about the call-ups and predictions. Like being a kid all over again. So I put together a depth chart and you can view it in the link below. If anyone has comments, please feel free to add them. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nnGqvRxCvoFnpsXQ_kZE8--TzjuZXho516M6M5Hf3pw/edit?usp=sharing I have other sheets in my own document tracking pendurados, call-ups and all of the players Tite has used since 2019, but for now I'm just putting the basic depth chart up. Note that the current version is my best guess at a WC call-up assuming everyone is healthy in October (for example, Veríssimo is on the list). The options listed in "janeiro?" are not all equal. For example, with Veríssimo injured we will see a different center-back. But for GK we might see the usual 3 even if most players in Brazil might not be ready, I think Weverton will be.
Lots of "convocáveis" played this Sunday. Monday, Man Utd x Aston Villa could include Coutinho possibly. Wednesday has an "el clasico" for the Spanish supercopa. I've updated the spreadsheet I mentioned above: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nnGqvRxCvoFnpsXQ_kZE8--TzjuZXho516M6M5Hf3pw/edit?usp=sharing Here's how it reads: Tab 1 - Depth chart - The 23 (my best guess as of today) - The next in line for this call-up (for example, if a Brazil-based player is not called, or an extra d-mid is called) - My best guess at the rest of the options based on recent call-ups, olympics and news - Players previously called by Tite that I don't think are in the picture anymore Tab 2 - list of all convocados since Copa América 2019 (more or less). - Listed by position, includes key Olympic call-ups and some of the speculated names not called up yet I may add more later, like a tab for pendurados. The globo article last week, I realized, has a few mistakes in the list of yellow carded players so I am trying to sort that out.
A couple of articles ahead of tomorrow's call-up, focused on what to expect for National Team ahead of the World Cup call-up itself. 10 things to be defined before the World Cup: https://www.uol.com.br/esporte/fute...ecao-brasileira-precisa-definir-para-2022.htm It mentions that we can expect more tests during these four final World Cup qualifiers than the friendlies in June and September, which will be for fine-tuning. No real speculation for tomorrow's list though. Coaching staff concerned about Neymar's fitness and form: https://www.uol.com.br/esporte/fute...eira-pela-questao-fisica-e-tambem-tecnica.htm
Final pre-call-up update, with ge's articles and a guess at the names we'll see. CBF will fly players straight to Quito on a private jet to reduce the chance of new COVID positives. Some of the players who tested positive for COVID in recent weeks but have since returned: Alisson, Firmino, Thiago Silva, Vini Jr, Gerson. Weverton still hasn't tested negative since returning. There's a high risk we could have players test positive and be cut after the call-up. ge.com's final summary before the call-up 42 players were named in the pre-list for clubs to release. The final list tomorrow should be 25 or 26 names Vanderson is the new name being heard the most Claudinho and Gabigol are looking likely for a return If Weverton is not called up, the next keeper will probably be from Brazil, they won't force themselves to call-up a European based keeper just because of pre-season One thing I have not seen talked about much is who could be held back by their club (with permission from CBF). For example, I could see Man City asking us to let them keep Ederson, because they will also lose his backup (Zach Steffen, USA) and since we're already qualified they might ask for that favor. Coutinho, Dani Alves are other names I could see their teams requesting permission to stay. It's a small possibility but it couldn't surprise me to see at least once or two names missing for this reason. CBF will carry the call-up on their site, and ge will have coverage.
Vin Jr. with another goal today. He is really flying. His finishing has improved a lot. But Tite would need to know how to use him. These games would be a good opportunity to really try him out. If Neymar is out, if Vin Jr continues like this, Tite will have a hard time keeping him out of the starting lineup.
I see Tite called up Dede at some point in your document. Barely remember. He just signed for Ponte Preta.
CBF inquired about playing friendlies in March, while using a B team to play the World Cup qualifiers. FIFA and CONMEBOL said no to the idea: https://ge.globo.com/futebol/seleca...as-e-fazer-amistosos-na-europa-em-marco.ghtml
Alisson, Ederson, Weverton Dani Alves, Emerson Royal, Alex Sandro, Alex Telles Éder Militão, Gabriel Magalhães, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva Casemiro, Fabinho, B. Guimarães, Gerson, Fred, Philippe Coutinho, Lucas Paquetá, Everton Ribeiro Raphinha, Antony, Rodrygo, Gabriel Jesus, Vini Jr., Matheus Cunha, Gabriel Barbosa SAIU A LISTA DO TITE! Esses são os convocados da Seleção para os jogos contra Equador e Paraguai, pelas Eliminatórias. 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/JxYZPkdeh1— ESPN Brasil (@ESPNBrasil) January 13, 2022
I have to say it's a pretty disappointing call-up. Dani Alves and Alex Telles: Dani Alves is not entirely unexpected, but is disappointing. Alex Telles instead of Arana or Caio Henrique is quite disappointing. Bruno Guimarães is the bright spot in my opinion. Everton Ribeiro and Coutinho as the other options for Paquetá's position is underwhelming. The other extra player (they went with 26) is Rodrygo, but I was hoping for another option at the number 9 position. Oh well, I hope Bruno Guimarães plays his way onto the team and we see better options in March.
Coutinho and Alves Oh well. I guess in Coutinho's case Tite wants to find out sooner than later what he can get from him. If he doesn't call him up now, and he hits a stride of from with Aston Villa, Tite may find himself in a tough position. My hopes for this WC are low.
This is exactly one of the reasons why Alves went back to Barca. They are still crazy enough to play him at right back. SPFC only wanted to play him in the midfield and there was also the issue of not paying him. The top 3 teams in Brazil weren't willing to play him at RB and the rest of the team couldn't really afford him. His best shot to making the roster for the WC was to go back to Barca as a RB. I know ER7 has been "productive" for Tite, but he does not merit a call up at the moment. His form hasn't been good enough.
Tite defended Coutinho's capping by saying he "is an important player of playmaking and conclusion. He is getting back to his top level. He is fit enough to return. A perspective that he may start the rebound back to his top level. That I may see and take advantage, if this growth can be happening." Sounds a bit convoluted. As Ombak pointed out, 2022 will determine whether Tite is sent off from NT duty with or without a title. After a bit more than 5 years, it's surreal to consider that this is Tite's final year as Brazil's treinador. I of course hope he leaves with the World Cup title, but regardless of what happens in Qatar (barring an unforeseen catastrophe), he has built a legacy that will be extremely difficult for whoever is his successor to match. Given how demanding managing Brazil is, it does say something that he's the first Brazilian to manage the Seleção in two consecutive World Cups since Telê Santana.
I saw only a couple of minutes of the press conference . He mentioned something about past performances as well along with current performance on call ups … “conjunto da obra”. History plays a role …. Always has . And it makes a bit of sense here as our other options are not that convincing … which leaves the door open for other options .
TITE is speaking now. Not a big surprise, but for me Coutinho is ridiculous. VJ is a must for Qatar the way he is arrebentando at RM.
I added a new tab for the spreadsheet with the convocação itself. I'll update it if there are any cuts. I agree with CB that Tite's reasoning today was a bit convoluted. He had three extra roster spots, it's not absurd to take Coutinho in that context. I'm hoping we'll see Richarlison back in March and Gabriel Jesus finally dropped. Richarlison can play in both of the current forward positions (center-forward and second/support striker) and can play on the left-wing too. I think, with Raphinha and Anthony on the right, he offers more than Gabriel Jesus. I'm a little curious about left-back now, with Alex Sandro's bad form. Whereas before I thought Alex Sandro + Arana or Lodi was a guarantee, is it possible we'll see him dropped in March to test Telles + Arana or Lodi? Those two spots seemed guaranteed all through last year but maybe there's still some room there.
I was thinking to myself … in my lifetime , back to when I remember (86 WC) , we’ve always been strong at FB position . 2018 RB was already dubious with Danilo and Fagner although Fagner did fairly well when he came in . This year is really meh …
With Brazil already qualified, Vinicius Jr. needs to be tested. I am not advocating him becoming a titular absoluto right away, but I do think he deserves at least one start. The first match is at Quito. The altitude, while not like Bolivia's, can and may prove to be a factor. On February 1, Brazil hosts Paraguay at Belo Horizonte - if he is fit, and assuming he does well at Ecuador, Vinicius Junior should start. The one benefit from this otherwise peculiarly scheduled World Cup is that Tite (and every other qualified team's manager) will have a number of extra months to fine-tune the team. But given Vinicius Jr. is going to be a mainstay in the team for years after Tite's departure (Hexa or no Hexa in Qatar) and given the immediate goal is getting the team ready for the 2022 World Cup, the more playing time Vinicius Jr. gets insofar team chemistry and fair opportunities are accounted for, the better. There's no continental competition, no Olympics, nothing this summer - friendlies will be all Tite will have to make the team as ready as possible. I really hope Brazil wins, but in addition to the obvious reasons, I do believe that Tite - however criticized he may at times deserve to be - has done an unforgettably impeccable job with Brazil, and given what a student of the game he is and how diligent he's known to be, the caneco would truly be a worthy accomplishment. Let's hope it does happen.
For forwards, Neymar's not in that picture but he takes one spot. My current hope is: Vini Jr., Neymar Jr., Matheus Cunha, Richarlison, Raphinha, Antony. As for fullbacks, I hope we don't go Dani Alves + Danilo and Alex Telles + Alex Sandro. I don't think we'll get much better than Danilo, Émerson, Alex Sandro, Arana out of Tite.
A couple of things we haven't talked about but that also came up in the press conference or since then. Pedro probably would have been called up had he been a starter for Flamengo. Considering what was said, it's unlikely he'll get in now, but there's a chance, since the new coach is very likely to make him a starter alongside Gabigol. If Pedro has a crazy year, maybe he still has a shot. It's hard to overstate how poor the timing of these last two call-ups was for Arana. He probably would be in if he had come back earlier for the pre-season. Does he have a shot at being the starter? Some of the reporters that follow the national team regularly think so. I thought this week's ge podcast, following the call-up, was a good listen if you're interested: https://interativos.globoesporte.gl...ra-coutinho-dentro-e-muita-disputa-no-ataque/
Antony, Matheus Cunha, and Bruno Guimarães are the 2020 Olympic champions in this squad. Arana was there before - I hope he returns. Again, this is Tite looking beyond his own tenure. He absolutely must incorporate at least some new blood into the team not only to increase the odds of glory in Qatar but to leave the best possible legacy so his successor will have the highest-quality human material to work with en route to 2026. Antony - 6 goals in 14 matches for Ajax this season; Ajax is in second place. Matheus Cunha - he last scored for Atl. Madrid on 12/4/2021. Atl. Madrid has had a poor streak as of late. He's had a share of yellow cards this season; I hope it doesn't transfer over to international duty. Bruno Guimarães - Lyon is in the middle of the league table. He had a solid season in 2020-2021, and his style suits Tite, as he can defend well but also operates like a playmaker. I'm excited to see how these kids, who were born after the Tetra, will develop while playing for Brazil.
Biggest news this past week is the possibility of a friendly against England in June. Still not confirmed, but optimistic. Ecuador match is Thursday (6pm Brazil time). No new injuries or COVID positives since the call-up, fingers crossed. From this weekend of matches in Europe, Dani Alves and Émerson were on the bench and didn't play. Not a great week for Brazilian right-backs overall. Danilo did get a few minutes as a sub earlier this week, but didn't play the weekend match. Vánderson did and scored.
I spoke too soon! Sort of. There are 4 COVID cases among the staff. https://ge.globo.com/futebol/seleca...vid-desfalques-comissao-tecnica-jardine.ghtml "o preparador físico Fábio Mahseredjian, o analista de desempenho Raony Thadeu, o auxiliar César Sampaio e o coordenador Juninho Paulista." They will be replaced by 3 of the olympic coaching staff, including Jardine who will replace César Sampaio as an assistant coach. TBD whether they will also participate in the Paraguay match.