Seleção General Discussion, 2018 and beyond

I think it's a licensing thing. They have real (well, replica I guess) Brazil jerseys and the Brazilian flag on the scoreboard.

The other team is just supposed to "look like" a real team. If I had to guess who they are trying to make it look like I would say Scotland too, based on the fake flag, the color of the blue jersey (it looks like an older Scottish jersey) and the names on the shirts.

 

Brazil's upcoming games this year are all World Cup qualifiers:

Sept 2 @ Chile
Sept 7 vs. Peru (Beira-Rio)

Oct 7 @ Venezuela
Oct 12 vs. Uruguay (Maracanã)

November 11 vs. Colombia (Morumbi)
November 16 @ Argentina

I hope we go in to the Chile game with our strongest line-up. In my opinion that would be:

Ederson;
Danilo, Militao, Marquinhos, Alex Sandro;
Casemiro, Fred, Paquetá;
Richarlison, Neymar, Gabriel Jesus

I am not the biggest Gabigol fan, unlike other flamenguistas, but I do think he should be part of that squad and start one game (against Peru if I had to pick).

I also hope we get one or two new names (even if they're well known names from the Olympic squad), maybe a Gerson and one or two people who did well in the Olympics and can fight for posts we need to strengthen.

 

Most people will say no. I think Dani Alves will start the World Cup if he can. But as far as my prediction for this game, I try to be realistic.

Dani Alves, Danilo have the trust of the coaching staff and the performances to keep getting calls. Emerson is seen as a good option as well and if Dani Alves can't make it, he's next in line (behind Danilo).

I don't see another right-back breaking into the team unless someone has a stellar season AND fits Tite's tactics, or one of the Olympic team members (including previous call-ups) is already on their radar. Right now Gabriel Menino fits the latter criteria and is probably 4th in line.

 

Looks like the 2 TBD qualifiers have been scheduled for September and October. We will play:

@chile; @Colombia; vs. Peru in September
vs. Argentina; vs. Uruguay; @Venezuela in October

November stays the same: vs. Colombia, @ARGENTINA;

 

Between the previous speculation and because I saw it on globo esporte, I find it reliable, but not 100%.

I did check the wiki as well to see if it was updated (it's not) and if it had an alternate source, I also checked the CONMEBOL page but nothing yet, so it has yet to me confirmed.

 

Looks like the September triple-date has been approved and scheduled.

Brazil will play in Chile on Sept 2, and vs. Argentina and then Peru on Sept 5 and 9
Curiously it's a rematch of all of our Copa América knockout round matches.

Call-up should be this Friday since the first match is only 3 weeks later.

I doubt we'll see new names, besides maybe an Olympic squad member (besides the ones who are already regulars, like Richarlison and Douglas Luiz).

With these three games, qualifying will be half done. We can't mathematically qualify just yet, I think, but if we expand our lead even further, we could be mathematically qualified in October. We could have a 15 point cushion or more between us and the playoff spot if we win ours and results in the middle of the pack go our way.

 

I think this is going to be Tite's most popular call-up in a long time. He actually included a number of Olympic players and Raphinha from Leeds. 25 players called for 3 games, but I'm actually surprised it wasn't more (I expected at least another full-back for the 3-game schedule)

Goleiros:
Alisson (Liverpool)
Ederson (Manchester City)
Weverton (Palmeiras)

Laterais:
Dani Alves (São Paulo)
Danilo (Juventus)
Alex Sandro (Juventus)
Guilherme Arana (Atlético-MG)

Zagueiros:
Thiago Silva (Chelsea)
Eder Militão (Real Madrid)
Lucas Veríssimo (Benfica)
Marquinhos (PSG)

Meias:
Bruno Guimarães (Lyon)
Casemiro (Real Madrid)
Claudinho (Zenit)
Everton Ribeiro (Flamengo)
Fabinho (Liverpool)
Fred (Manchester United)
Lucas Paquetá (Lyon)

Atacantes:
Firmino (Liverpool)
Gabigol (Flamengo)
Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City)
Matheus Cunha (Hertha Berlim)
Neymar (PSG)
Raphinha (Leeds United)
Richarlison (Everton)

 

Due to the threats from English clubs about releasing players for this window, Tite has already called up substitutes for our players in England. They are:

GK: Everson (Atlético-MG), Santos (Athletico)
CD: Miranda (São Paulo)
MID: Edenílson (Inter), Gerson (Olympique de Marselha), Matheus Nunes (Sporting)
FWD: Hulk (Atlético-MG), Malcom (Zenit), Vinicius Júnior (Real Madrid)

A few thoughts:

• Spain and Italy are also threatening to not release players. If they do, we have a ton more to replace (including Vini Jr above).
• I wonder if this was done to take pressure off the Brazilian players in England rather than force them to choose. Some players for other teams have already stated they will play, no matter what.
• If players aren't released FIFA can still punish clubs. The established penalty is banning players for 5 days after the window. Clubs are probably ok with this since quarantine would be 10 days and therefore much worse.
• As for the names above, actually quite an interesting call-up. Gerson, Matheus Nunes being the biggest newcomers and obviously Hulk's return will be very well seen by Brazilian pundits. Malcom and Santos rewarded for their Olympic roles. Everson and Edenilson not surprising when considering options in Brazil and Miranda I think is there entirely on experience, the starting duo will clearly be Marquinhos and Militão (unless of course... players in Spain also need to be replaced).
• No surprise seeing Vini Jr. He would be lock for October thanks to his amazing start to the season in Spain, now that Tite has named replacements, the bigger surprise is that Diego Carlos wasn't named. Again, players in Spain might still need replacements, but for now he is obviously counting on them, so why not Diego Carlos?

 

What a mess...

 

Maybe ... just maybe, CONMEBOL should have had some WCQ games instead of the CA in that month. Just a thought.

 

Juninho made it a point during the press conference to say very clearly that no players are removed from the call-up. In other words, if the players in England don't come, CBF will still expect FIFA to punish the teams appropriately (banning them from using those players for 5 days after the international window).

 

So today we finally have confirmation the players in England have not traveled and will miss this window.

Meanwhile, Argentina's players will travel, some of them having come to agreements with their clubs.

Additionally, Matheus Nunes has reportedly chosen not to accept the Brazil call-up despite his initial excitement. Understandable, considering he's been in Portugal since he was 12 years old and started his soccer career there.

We'll still be favorites in all 3 games, I expect, but Argentina will have a real shot at being the first team to beat us in a home WCQ. We'll see. I'm still hopeful our gap at the top will get wider during this break and we'll basically be qualified.

 

And BTW ... Neymar looks way off form. He really let himself go over the summer.

 

Vini Jr will carry us!

In all seriousness, I'd love to see a midfield of Casemiro, B. Guimarães and Paquetá, with Neymar used up front. Considering Fred is one of the missing players that line-up actually sounds likely to me.

My biggest question is what happens on the right side, with no Gabriel Jesus and no Raphinha?

I suspect that will either be Paquetá or Everton Ribeiro, and not really a 4-3-3 anymore but more of a 4-2-3-1:

Weverton;
Dani Alves, Marquinhos, Militão, Alex Sandro;
Casemiro, Bruno Guimarães;
Paquetá, Neymar, Vini Jr?
Gabigol

 

Players should just get on a private plane and come. What are the clubs gonna do ? Fine them ? That's about it.