Transformative Tite toasted
Coach restores Brazil’s spirit after hard times
SAO PAULO — When Brazil coach Tite discovered that the team he brought back from the doldrums was the first to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, he gave thanks to God.
Then he said he was ready for a giant caipirinha cocktail.
Most Brazil fans would agree the 55-year-old deserves a drink.
When Tite replaced the fired Dunga last year, it seemed things couldn’t get worse for the five-time world champion.
Brazil’s humbling 7-1 loss to Germany on home soil in the 2014 World Cup was followed by a string of embarrassments early in its 2018 qualifying campaign.
Less than a year ago, Brazil was in sixth place, below the qualifying cut-off, in the South American standings after taking just nine points from six matches.
The sense of crisis heightened when it was eliminated in the first round of last year’s Copa America.
But then last June, 1994 World Cup winner Dunga was axed as head coach. Tite, then at Sao Paulo club Corinthians, replaced him, heralding the start of an impressive rebirth.
Since Tite took the reins, Brazil has won eight straight qualifiers, surging to the top of the group.
Tite was still basking in the glory of the latest triumph — a 3-0 home drubbing of Paraguay on Tuesday — when a reporter at the post-match media conference broke the news: Uruguay had lost to Peru, mathematically guaranteeing Brazil a ticket to the finals in Russia.
Aside from the host, which has an automatic berth, Brazil is the first team booked for the tournament.
It was 1:10 am in Sao Paulo. Tite, whose leathery face is often creased with intensity on the pitch, broke into a giant smile, then a full-throated laugh, at the news.
“Thank you, father in heaven!” he said.
Asked if he was planning to celebrate with a caipirinha, Brazil’s favorite national cocktail, Tite replied with a grin: “Yeah, this big,” extending his hands from his waist to the top of his head.
Qualifying for the World Cup is a major deal in Brazil.
Besides holding the record for the most world titles, Brazil prides itself on being the only country to have played in every edition of the tournament since its launch in 1930.
It is a fact Brazilians defensively refer to when the “Selecao” is struggling to find its “jogo bonito,” (beautiful game) as its demanding fans say it has been since its last World Cup title in 2002.
‘We owe him’
Tite is now being hailed as Brazil’s renaissance man.
“You can see the atmosphere here, the dedication of every player ,” said Real Madrid leftback Marcelo, who scored the third goal against the Paraguayans.
“Everyone is working hard at every practice, giving their life in every match. We are thankful for the arrival of Tite and his team. It changed practically everything. We owe him a lot.”
Barcelona superstar Neymar spoke of the recent winning streak restoring the team’s faded glory.
“It’s a great source of happiness to be able to bring back Brazilian fans, to see them coming out to watch us and having a good time watching the match. That had stopped a bit before,” said Neymar.
“I remember back when I couldn’t wait to watch my idols play for Brazil — Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Robinho. That’s coming back little by little,” he said. “We can dream a little bit more with this team.”
Taking a moment to drink it all in, Tite dedicated the team’s revival to the fans.
“My greatest happiness is sharing happiness,” he said.
Then he was straight back to business.
“Now we have to consolidate,” he said, revealing he will use the remaining four qualifying matches to fine-tune his starting XI for Russia.
“We have to maintain our level of play, without wavering,” he said. “That will make us consistent, heavy, strong. We’re not ready yet.”