There are four months left until the World Cup starts. In the millions of discussions about the possible center forwards who will be in the World Cup – a new name appears every week –, they never mention Vinicius Junior, who has been the holder of the position, acting centrally and further forward, unlike what happens at Real Madrid, where he plays on the left. Using the same reasoning, Matheus Cunha, who was a center forward, plays for the Brazilian team and for Manchester United as a centralized and advanced midfielder.
With Raphinha’s return, he will be able to play in Matheus Cunha’s place or on the wing, in Rodrygo’s or Estêvão’s position. Another option for Carlo Ancelotti is to play Vinicius Junior on the left, Raphinha in the center or on the right and a center forward. Today, the most quoted is João Pedro. He is a skillful, inventive center forward, who moves a lot and participates in the collective game, in addition to finishing very well. Without wanting to compare talent, João Pedro has similar characteristics to Kane, a star from Bayern Munich and the English national team.
The lack is on the sides. As no young player with talent for the national team has emerged, Ancelotti will probably choose the experienced Alex Sandro and Militão on the left and right sides. The coach has also said that Danilo can be a good reserve for the four defensive positions. In defense, the team has two of the best defenders in the world, Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhães, as well as good reserves. In goal, Alisson is the starter. Ederson and Hugo Souza are the other two most likely goalkeepers.
In midfield, there is a lack of reserves equal to Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães. Chelsea youngster Andrey is the most likely backup for Casemiro. Paquetá, Matheus Cunha’s replacement, is also an option for Bruno Guimarães’ role.
Andreas Pereira is a good alternative to Bruno Guimarães’ reserve, but Ancelotti must not have liked the player’s cheating against Corinthians, by making holes in the penalty spot, which probably hindered Memphis. The Palmeiras midfielder set a terrible example, as columnist Marcelo Bechler wrote very well in Sheet.
If Brazilian football valued midfielders who play from one midfield to the other more and deified dribbling attackers and goalscorers less, Marcos Antônio would be much more praised since arriving at São Paulo. Maybe he would even be asked for selection. In the 2-0 victory over Grêmio, he and the other midfielders, Danielzinho and Bobadilla, took control of the game.
Marcos Antônio slides on the pitch, touches, advances, receives and makes all the connections between the players from the middle to the front, with precise short and long passes. After he started to play as a midfielder for São Paulo, instead of playing as an attacking midfielder, he shined much more.
During the match against Grêmio, Argentine coach Hernán Crespo couldn’t stop smiling, delighted with the team. You must have remembered Argentina’s 4-1 rout of Brazil, before Ancelotti, when Argentina’s trio of midfielders danced on the field.
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