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On Monday, Brazil revealed the World Cup team they believe would finally end a 20-year title drought. Coach Tite has reaped the rewards of a complete cycle in control of the national squad, as evidenced by the squad’s good morale and impressive recent achievements.
Tite was given a little over two years to prepare for the 2018 tournament in Russia. Some of the players on that team had never been given much of an opportunity to prove themselves, so they had basically a little opportunity of really playing. To pad the figures, a few people fabricated responses.
Who made it in?
Brazil struggled to fill a list of 23 candidates four years ago, they had the reverse difficulty this time around, with three more slots open.
Everyone is curious to see who made the cut in the World Cup 2022’s favorite, but some are more concerned with who didn’t make the cut from the original 26. We have a dedicated page where you can check all the latest World Cup betting odds 2022.
The former Barcelona right-back, now at Liga MX outfit Pumas and with very little recent football before him, will likely be the subject of many headlines due to his inclusion, which may be a shock to some.
The Brazil coaching staff has been keeping tabs on Alves, and they believe he is ready to play, particularly since the full-role back’s in Tite’s team are so different from that of previous sides. Roberto Carlos and Cafu are no longer needed as substitute wingers for Brazil.
Alves is too old at this point to serve in such a capacity. Instead, Brazil envisions him playing a role that relies more on brainpower than lung power: anchoring the defensive line, sliding in as an additional midfielder, and assisting to create a play from the back.
Who has been left out?
It must have been tempting to bench Alves in favor of playing with only one right back and giving Eder Militao, a center back, some playing time at right back. Because this was where Tite would just have to make his toughest choice, an extra attacking spot would have been made available.
Until recently, it had been assumed that Gabriel Martinelli would be left off the final roster. Simply put, there was nowhere for him to go. However, his consistent play for Arsenal made him impossible to overlook. But where would he even fit in Tite’s system? Alves’s exclusion was considered but rejected.
Alternatively, they could have looked for another player to drop, and they eventually settled on Roberto Firmino. It’s such a shame that his fans would not be able to catch him in action at the World Cup 2022 livestream.
It appeared that the Liverpool striker had regained his form at the ideal time. It could be problematic to select Martinelli instead of Firmino.
Brazil has a plethora of talented wide attackers for the WorldCup22. With Raphinha on the right and Vinicius Junior on the left, and now Martinelli as well, Antony and Rodrigo are the primary choices as backups.
Brazil can’t rely on Neymar alone
It still remains a mystery to fans who would back up Neymar. When preparing for games, Brazil must account for the chance that Neymar will not play. His two recent yellow cards came in Brazil’s recent friendly victories against Ghana and Tunisia. It’s possible the card given to Tunisia would have been red.
Like Casemiro four years ago, he risks being suspended for a pivotal match. This time, it might be the semifinal showdown with Belgium. Who would be the best candidate to replace Neymar on the national team if he were to be injured? You might want to check our page for the World Cup 2022 fixtures Singapore time for the complete match schedules.
In this case, it seems like Firmino would be the best alternative. Tite likens Neymar to a bow and arrow because he can both design plays from beyond the offensive line and finish them off from within the box. Phillippe Coutinho was another option for the coaching staff to use in place of Neymar, but he has recently lost form and fitness and will not risk anything in Qatar.
Rodrygo is the future of Brazil; he is a phenomenally gifted multi-talented individual who will undoubtedly play a significant role in the country’s development. When asked if he could replace Neymar, though, many doubted his abilities. It’s possible that Gabriel Jesus‘s ability to switch his attacks will shine.
Final thoughts
In spite of what otherwise appears to be a roster with the quality and strength in depth to make them serious title challengers, the lack of a clear-up in this vital position looks unbalanced.Brazil is currently en route to Qatar in search of their sixth world championship (at 5.50 odds), with the hopes that Neymar stays healthy and injury-free. You can bet that there are tons of amazing free World Cup bets for Brazil at your favorite sportsbooks today.