Rhoo bets for Brazil’s captaincy
‘Rotating skippers boost team spirit’
Former Bafana Bafana captain Lucas Radebe believes Brazil’s policy of rotating captains at the World Cup encourages everyone to take the responsibility in the team.
“Rotating captains is a wise approach. It promotes that sense of collective leadership. It also makes each and every player to feel responsible,” noted Radebe, who skippered Bafana at two World Cups – 1998 and 2002.
Three players have captained Brazil in their four matches at the Russia showpiece so far.
In their opening Group E match against Switzerland, Real
Madrid fullback Marcelo skippered Tite’s charges. In the second group match the armband was passed to Inter Milan centreback Miranda.
Brazil’s captain in the last World Cup, central defender Thiago Silva, led the side against Costa Rica and in the last-16 tie against Mexico. But the question remains: who between the three should get the gig to lift the trophy should Seleção go all the way to claim it on July 15? Radebe feels Silva must get the honour to lift the 18-carat gold trophy should the South Americans clinch it.
“I think Silva deserves to be the one lifting it. He’s been reliable at the back for the past couple of years for Brazil,” Radebe said. “Miranda and Marcelo are also doing great, but I feel Silva is a natural leader. He’s also the captain at PSG [French Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain].
“He is commanding that defence very well.”
The 49-year-old retired centre-back predicts that the winner of tomorrow’s quarterfinal match between Brazil and Belgium will have a good chance to become world champions. “That Brazil-Belgium match will decide the champions. Belgium have been great, and beating Brazil will give them confidence. “For Brazil, I think if they can reach the semifinals, nothing can disturb them to win this World Cup. Both countries are star-studded and it’ll be a cracker.”