November 29 – Five-time world champions Brazil marched on to the knockout phase of the World Cup with a laboured, but ultimately deserved victory against a limited Swiss side with Casemiro delivering the winning strike in the 83rd minute.
“Today the process won,” said Tite. “It took four years to use athletes so that they can develop, be natural, young, taking advantage of their clubs and having opportunities.”
Brazil had never beaten the Swiss at a World Cup, but that changed at Stadium 974 with Manchester United midfielder Casemiro striking late on with a brilliant piece of skill.
However, his winner could not disguise that Brazil had struggled without their talisman Neymar, who recevied an ankle injury in Brazil’s first game against Serbia.
“There are three variables that we use,” explained Tite. “First game without Neymar, you chose Casemiro as a star, the team is the star. Of course, Neymar has different characteristics: in a magical moment, he dribbles and shimmies. He has that ability, other players are going through this process. So, yes, you miss Neymar. The team has creative power, but there are also players who can provide.”
Brazil were lethargic for much of the 90 minutes. They played with their cast of fabulous youngsters, on the wing and up top, but the yellow shirts were immobile as if held back by an invisible hand – they were without their playmaker and lodestar, who dictates, finds the pockets of space and progresses the play – instead, the ghost of Neymar was wandering around all those colourful containers?
And the Brazilians did not have a clue how to exorcise this particular demon. In 2014, Neymar was the absolute centre of gravity, but, after his bone-breaking injury in the last eight, the Seleçao as well as the nation collapsed.
It’s this scenario that Tite will want to avoid. Is Neymar essential but not irreplaceable or is Neymar irreplaceable but not essential? This team must not become a repeat of Brazil’s home World Cup, a sort of 2.014, a team that is neither here nor there, that will go on, but in the end, disappoint.
This Seleçao is brimming with life.
In the second half, all of Raphinha, Rodrygo, Richarlison, Vinicius Jr. and Bruno Guimaraes were on the pitch – the Brazil coach wisely substituted Fred – and later Anthony as well as Gabriel Jesus. It was a brilliant proposition, but in the end, little happened, except for Casemiro’s wonder strike. A veteran came to the rescue, and that was perhaps the big problem – no one claimed the role that Brazil needs most filled.
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