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  • Sports - Football - Gossips
  • Updated: November 17, 2022

World Cup 2022: Selection Headaches For Brazil At Qatar

World Cup 2022: Selection Headaches For Brazil At Qatar

Brazil Attack

Brazil coach Tite selected nine forwards in his national team squad for the World Cup 2022 in Qatar with Neymar Jr the most experienced of all.

Aside from Neymar,  Raphinha, and Vinicius Jr are incredible players on the wing with their pace, dribbles and ability to cut through defence.

Vinicius Jr has already challenged Neymar for the starting berth on the left wing with the Real Madrid's winger bursting pace.

Unlike Neymar, Vinicius is more direct with his breaking movement into the opposition especially when his side hit the opposition in a quick fashion or counter-attack.

This was crucial to Real Madrid's double -- La Liga and UEFA Champions League win last season.

The transfer of Raphinha has also improved his stock playing in one of club football's powerhouses -- Barcelona. Although the Catalans are not what they are before with a consecutive drop to Europa League but they still boast a 2-point lead over European champions Real Madrid in the Spanish top flight.

The lead was thanks to Raphinha's header that secured a 2-1 comeback win over the resilient Osasuna side.

With Lewandowski's three-match ban after the World Cup and maybe a stellar performance from him, he might slowly make his way back to the top of the pecking order at Spotify Camp Nou.

Rodrigo and Gabriel Martinelli are also explosive players in their own rights.

Rodrigo's late goals were crucial to Real Madrid's win over English Champions Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinals, and quarterfinals of the Champions League in the 2021-22 season while he has also deputized Karim Benzema with a decisive goal against Barcelona in 3-1 El Clasico win at Santiago Bernabeu.

He will be used mostly in the World Cup or as a starter in case of injuries to other players in the squad but it remains to be seen if he would challenge the likes of Raphinha and Antony for a spot on the right.

Arsenal's Martinelli is the 2022/23 season revelation at Emirates, with Mikel Arteta's side 5 points clear of Man City in the EPL Standings. Martinelli played a pivotal role in that success.

He is usually deployed on the wing at Arsenal -- on the left with Bukayo Saka dominating the right. Martinelli has scored 5 goals providing 2 assists in 14 appearances for Arsenal.

He will likely play second fiddle to Vinicius.

Antony would have easily displaced Raphinha with his dribbles and quick foot but the Manchester United winger has come under heavy criticism recently following his showboating in Europa League and Premier League.

At the World Cup Group G, he would not be facing a Fulham-like side but Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon -- teams who had come to win so any sign of showboating could lead to potential injury or more criticism.

For now, Tite would most likely stick to the front three of Vinicius Jr, Neymar Jr and Raphinha in the starting XI.

The question now is where would Richarlison and Gabriel Jesus play. One answer is he could simply make it a 4-2-4 or in its modified forms as it would really be proper playing without a pointman in the presence of two.

Several criticisms have been heaped on the coach for dropping Robert Firmino, in my honest opinion, I really respect Bobby and I would take him if the decision were up to me but I also try to see things from the manager's perspective.

One is to avoid selection headaches, another is most of these players aside from Vinicius, Raphinha and Antony, the rest can all be used as No. 9, Tite is simply avoiding a situation where he will have almost 3 players playing in the same role.

The last reason is that he also trying to give the opportunity to young players who will likely be playing their first World Cup but you can ask if Firmino could be playing his last one, so why not give him a chance instead? Well at that point you will have to speak to Tite.

Back to the point, we were making about the usage of Richarlison and Gabriel Jesus. We won't be surprised to see all four of Neymar in a No. 10 role, with Jesus (or Richarlison) ahead, Vinicius on the left and Raphinha on the right. 

It still leaves Flamengo's Pedro among the squad which means he might see little or no playing time if at least two players are not down due to injury -- a bet Tite was and is ready to take.

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