England among favourites, avers Brazil coach Tite
LONDON: Brazil coach Tite views England as one of the favourites to win next year’s World Cup and believes the cosmopolitan nature of the Premier League has beneited their national team.
England manager Gareth Southgate successfully blooded several new players in Friday’s 0-0 friendly draw with Germany and once again was obliged to field an inexperienced team against Brazil on Tuesday due to injuries.
However, Tite is convinced Southgate’s men will be serious contenders in Russia.
“Even though Southgate has only had 13 games (as manager) so far, with Dele Alli, Kane and the experience of (Gary) Cahill, that tradition counts, so I see England as one of the favourites,” Tite said.
“Historically, England’s (football) is a mix between technical football, on the floor, but also physical contact, quality, short passing, triangulation.
“In the Premier League there are so many foreign coaches and different players. It’s a very strong league with different styles.” Brazil have won 13 of the 16 games they have played under Tite’s stewardship.
England’s goal-scoring talisman, Kane, and Brazil’s Gabriel Jesus, the former Corinthians coach said, could be compared in terms of influence, although he feels they are very different players.
“Gabriel attacks the space, gives us that depth; Kane is more positional. They’re two strong strikers.”