Martinelli is so young he's still a few months away from being legally authorized to drink alcohol in the United States. He and Bruno Guimarães are examples of the new blood, along with Antony and the few other Olympic champions Tite has capped, who are the future of Brazil's national team post-2022. If they remain fit and perform consistently, they could be at the 2026 and 2030 World Cups.
Brazilian players are so done with the altitude. That attack that led to Martinelli not quite getting a shot/getting muscled off the ball was comically slow. Against Bolivia in 1993 both goals we gave up came late. Bolivia of course still going strong.
Tite was not the only member of the Brazilian delegation who openly complained about the altitude, and there was talk about making a request to ban these games at high altitudes. Etcheverry, a former Bolivian player, protested back. Specifically, Tite said it's "inhumane" to play there; Fabio Mahseradjian, Brazil's preparador físico, said the Bolivian altitude is "environmental doping."
Meh. We've been complaining about altitude games for a while now. More precisely, since we lost to them in 79 CA for the first time. It is what it is. It's not gonna change. We need to stop complaining. Tite was over dramatic today saying it was inhumane. It's actually more dangerous to player's health to play in summer heat of Rio than the altitude.
Nice. Richarlison makes it 4x0. Gotta say, Richarlison really did what he had to do this window. Worked hard, came in as a sub in the first match, scored 3 times in 3 halves total, when our other forwards just haven't been scoring.
Martinelli close again. Game over (my feed did catch up in the second half finally). 4x0 in Bolivia is quite an achievement considering our typical performance there.
Richarlison back in pole position for the striker role. Tite and the group also like him. That's gonna weigh in. Gabigol more and more out. GJ and Firmino are also on the outside looking in. Antony is in for sure. BG stamped his passport today. Everton R. will probably miss out. If FIFA increases roster to 26, then some of those may sneak back in. Martinelli and Rodrygo probably won't make it. Too much competition.
Agree with just about everything. I have to say, with 7 forwards (assuming 26 players) I can see a scenario where Matheus Cunha doesn't make it and Rodrygo and Martinelli both do. Right now I'd consider that a longshot but Tite like Rodrygo and Martinelli was very solid. He could use Neymar and Richarlison as options to start in the middle while Antony and Martinelli can cover that spot in a pinch while normally being sub options for the sides.
Martinelli's problem IMO is just lack of games. I just don't see Tite taking someone with very few tests. It would be unlike the way he works. He may still get tested in the friendlies coming up. But my guess is he is calling him now just in case injuries take out other players.
Let me tell you when I traveled to La Paz, walking from the airplane to the terminal was about the most difficult few hundred feet I have ever walked in my life. Literally fainted from lack of breath.
It affects some people differently. Even athletes. Some feel little effects, some feel it more. But nothing is going to make Bolivia play elsewhere. La Paz is their capital. Having said that, I took Tite's comment out of context. He said it was inhumane to tell his players to basically go all out in such environment. Which is a bit different than saying it's inhumane to play there. WC 94 final was hot as hell and it certainly affected how both teams approached the match and the pace of the game.
I agree it affects people differently, but I still don’t get what’s so scary about playing Bolivia in the altitude. That team really sucks no matter where they play, I don’t recall them ever picking up more than 15 home points since 2002 (which is bad btw as even that is only 55% effectiveness). Tite has a point, I think he’s emphasizing that game management is key in high altitudes.