MARCELO LEITE PEREIRA
The FIFA U-17 World Cup has always been unpredictable. You mostly don’t know much about the opponent and their strategy.
Though Brazil is a football powerhouse, we are still second to Nigeria in FIFA U-17 World Cup rankings.
Brazil have also won just three titles against Nigeria’s five. Mexico is the only other South American country to have won the FIFA U-17 World Cup , while teams like Argentina, Chile and Colombia are further behind.
This year though seems to be different and I somehow get a feeling that we might be able to bridge that gap.
Brazil have gone through an agonising 14-year title drought but to me this team looks hungry to win this one.
It showed in Brazil’s intention when the absence of Vinicius Junior didn’t affect their performance – starting the campaign with a superb win over Spain followed by Niger and North Korea. That the team has scored twice in each game and conceded just one speaks volume for their well- executed plans.
Brazil have come to India with a huge contingent which means this side means serious business. The team has an able coaching staff under Carlos Amadeu and the results show that their strategy is well in place. It’s a well balanced side and looks solid to go all the way in the competition.
At the top, both Lincoln and Paulinho are in great form, scoring in both the matches. Gabriel Brazoa has been good under the bar. But for me, Alan Souza and Paulinho are the ones who stand out as they have run the show for our team, displaying our flair and legacy.
WAY OF LIFE
Football isn’t just a sport in Brazil, it’s a way of life. People eat, drink and sleep the sport.
The national football team is often the national identity, an institution that gives Brazilians confidence in themselves. Most kids start learning the fundamentals at a very young age; sometimes they see it every day inside their family and on the streets of
Brazil. And then, every generation has had heroes to look up to — Pele, Zico, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Kaka.
Also, those who are serious about pursuing this sport as a career know that through football they have a chance to lead a better life than many.
So, there are so many motiva-