Keeping it Tite at back! Brazil’s resilience should concern their World Cup 2018 rivals

WORLD CUP ANALYSIS
Brazil have conceded only five goals in the 19 matches they have played under coach Tite (above)
REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay
John Dillon28 March 2018

Here is a statistic with huge significance ahead of the World Cup. Brazil have conceded only five goals in the 19 matches they have played under Tite, their current coach.

Clean sheet No14 under his command was racked up in the 1-0 victory over Germany in Berlin on Tuesday.

It is the Germans who remain the bookies favourites for the tournament because they fielded a somewhat experimental side in the Olympic Stadium, while Brazil, the injured Neymar apart, had one of their strongest available line-ups.

But a Brazilian side which can play with all their usual verve – and defend like they mean it as well - offers up a double whammy for their rivals to worry about this summer.

One or the other, well, someone will usually insist that is the inherent nature of the infamous Selecao.

Photo: AFP/Getty Images
AFP/Getty Images

It is not always true. But the very fact that the friendly was so important to Brazil was because they were seeking some sort of self-asserting redemption in their first meeting with the 2014 winners since their historic 7-1 semi-final defeat in that tournament.

Away from Berlin, Spain were thumping Argentina 6-1 while France secured a handy win over the summer’s host nation with the 3-1 defeat of Russia in St Petersburg, which also eased their nerves after a surprise 2-3 defeat at home against Colombia the previous Friday.

In Pictures | International friendlies | 27/03/2018

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But none of it altered the bookies thinking, however. They are not swayed much by friendly results.

Germany remain the favourites to win again. Brazil are the second pick and France, with such strength in depth in their squad, are the third choice, ahead of the Spanish.

It was instructive, though, to watch the nature of the Brazilian performance. This was about tactical discipline and organisation and shape of an impressive level, both defensively and in attack. They are experienced and well-seasoned, too.

The winning goal was fashioned in the Premier League, with Chelsea’s Willian crossing from the right and Gabriel Jesus of Manchester City finishing from inside the six-yard box.

It was his ninth goal in 15 internationals and Brazil have won on every occasion when he has scored. Certainly, he looks a far more mobile and lithe kind of threat than Brazil provided in the shape of the lumbering Fred (below) four years ago.

Photo: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images
Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images

Willian’s sprightly performance mirrored his fine recent form for his club, and with flair around the opposition box, with the speed of their passing causing several problems for the Germans.

Meanwhile, the impressive goalkeeper, Allison, and the centre-back pairing of Thiago Silva and Miranda even though the home side showed an ability to stretch the defence and pose a threat from wide areas, particularly in the second-half. And let’s not forget, they have Manchester City’s Emerson in their ranks, too.

Televised across Europe, the game will have shaken off any lingering perceptions caused by that monumental surrender against the Germans in Belo Horizonte four years ago.

Events like that tend to mould the thinking of football followers for some time afterwards and can carry over into the following World Cup.

"A Brazilian side which can play with all their usual verve – and defend like they mean it as well - offers up a double whammy for their rivals to worry about this summer"

Yet the defeat of the holders this week was the latest in a run of friendly wins in Europe in which Brazil have looked progressively assured each time around.

They were held to a goalless draw by a young England side at Wembley last November but were by far the better and more expansive side.

There then followed in the same month a 3-1 defeat of Japan in Lille in which they turned on the style at will

Last Friday, they won comfortably and cleverly 3-0 in Moscow – another result that, by the way, which suggests that for all the talk that Vladimir Putin wants this summer’s competition to be a propaganda festival for Mother Russia, it is not going to be supplied on the pitch by the home team.

Now, victory in Berlin. German midfielder Toni Kroos suggested the result proves that they “are not as good as some people think. “

We will see about that when it really matters. Meanwhile Brazil play friendlies in Croatia and Austria in June before kicking off their World Cup campaign against Switzerland.

The modern game will never allow the return of the all-dancing, all-juggling Brazilian teams of popular imagination. They don’t wish to be a circus act, anyway, despite what some people still believe they should demand from them.

No, Brazil fully pay their dues to the modern need for tactical rigour and planning, even if they also dazzle when they wish. They play impressive modern football.

This is a World Cup where, of course, the usual suspects are lining up to be the dominant forces. It was still re-assuring for those who believe that the finals are just not the same without Brazil looking at or near their best to see in Berlin that they have their house in order again after the humiliation of 2014.

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