Tite tempers Brazil hopes ahead of Mexico clash
BRAZIL’S relatively straightforward passage to the last 16 has created optimism among fans betting on a sixth World Cup title but coach Tite is using his characteristic restraint to prevent over-confidence among his players.
With champion Germany out, Argentina only scraping through, and Spain in turmoil, many see Brazil as the clear favorite to lift the World Cup in Moscow on July 15.
But moments after Brazil beat Serbia 2-0 to secure a quarterfinal date with Mexico, the wily coach was once again playing down expectations. “Expectations? We don’t live by expectations, we live by reality,” Tite told reporters. “(We live by) a team that mentally deals with the pressure, is balanced, that has replacement parts for important moments.
“You have to have a strong team. If the players didn’t have all this preparation then we’d surely not see this kind of performance.
“Your situation, like gamblers, is not our situation. Ours is looking to grow.”
Brazil’s performance against Serbia was its best so far and guaranteed it a date with Mexico in Samara on Monday.
Tite revealed Brazil’s first division clubs had helped the national side by having their performance analysts research all 32 nations in the tournament and write detailed reports for his backroom staff.
That assistance will be crucial against a talented but inconsistent Mexican side that has gone from beating Germany 1-0 in its opener to losing 0-3 to Sweden in its final group game on Wednesday.
“We are going to begin studying on the plane (back to our base camp”,” Tite’s assistant Cleber Xavier said. “They are a strong rival that beat Germany and Korea and qualified at the expense of Germany. For us, the thing is to know Mexico inside out so we can outline our expectations.”
Brazil’s star man at this World Cup was supposed to be Neymar but it is Philippe Coutinho who is taking the plaudits.
Coutinho has as many man of the match awards in this tournament as Neymar has different haircuts.
Against Serbia, too, he was Brazil’s creative fulcrum, setting up the first goal with a sublime long ball for Paulinho to touch over the onrushing Serbian goalkeeper.
His defense-splitting passes should have brought Brazil more reward, with Neymar and Gabriel Jesus also benefiting from his creative talent.
Coutinho has perhaps benefited from his friend Neymar’s love of the limelight.
With all eyes on the world’s most expensive footballer, the Barcelona player can operate under the radar and in Russia he has had the space to do what he does best, driving forward, threading perfect passes and cutting in to unleash fierce shots.