In the 2-0 victory against Senegal, Brazil showed, especially in the first half, a lot of individual and collective talent. As is necessary in big teams, the selection was compact, intense, with a lot of pressure to recover the ball across the field, as well as a lot of exchange of passes and speed plays. As there are no great young full-backs, Militão and Alex Sandro confirmed that they are the best options.
Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães repeated their excellent performances, which mitigates the negative concept that there is a lack of stars in the Brazilian team’s midfield. This is crucial to the team’s efficiency.
The big doubt remains that we will only be able to make a reliable assessment after Brazil faces the main teams in the world. The strategy and the team are almost defined, with a line of four defenders, two midfielders, two players on the sides who mark and attack, a centralized attacking midfielder and an attacker in the center. With Raphinha’s return, he will be able to play on one of the two sides or as a midfielder in the center.
Ancelotti has already defined the two tactical alternatives. One is to have another midfielder, probably Paquetá, in place of attacking midfielder Matheus Cunha. The other, having a center forward —João Pedro is the most popular—, passing Vinicius Junior to play on the left. Brazil is almost ready for the World Cup.
No frills
Some concepts in football are perpetuated even when they become obsolete. One of them is to analyze the game strategy according to the players’ positions on the board, as if they were dolls, avatars. It doesn’t even work to present the teams’ way of playing before matches, as, often, the places in the tactical designs are different from those that will occur on the pitch.
There is no longer any reason to divide the midfield, as has been done in Brazil in recent decades, between number 5, number 8 and number 10. They mix. As Klopp, former Liverpool coach, said, more important than a good and classic number 10 is recovering the ball closer to the opponent’s goal. Even better is having both options, pressure and the playmaker, which happens in many teams.
There is still a place for midfielders who play more centrally and deeper, who protect the defense and start offensive plays with great passes. They are the links between defense and attack. Great teams have this type of player. Casemiro, who has always stood out from the middle, has evolved and is now a great builder.
Ancelotti, rightly, protested against those who treat him only as a great manager, for commanding a group well. Ancelotti is a great strategist, due to his technical and tactical knowledge and having the wisdom to alternate the way he plays according to the characteristics and qualities of the players.
The main virtue of a coach and any professional is to make what is complex simple. Simple is not being banal. Don’t waste time with frills. Obviously, there is an opponent who understands what the other can do. Football is full of unexpected events. Losing doesn’t always mean doing it wrong, just as winning doesn’t always mean doing it right.
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