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Tite’s call-up of Alves is right, says Ze Roberto

Retired midfielder says it is right to have an experience­d player in the Brazil squad

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Brazil’s former midfielder Ze Roberto said criticism of Dani Alves’ call-up for the World Cup in Qatar was due to a cultural taboo on veterans that was still present in Brazilian football, something that he experience­d in his last finals in 2006.

Brazil coach Tite drew criticism from local media after calling on Alves, 39, who last played in September and recently recovered from a knee injury.

“This issue of age is cultural. I experience­d it first-hand when I returned to Brazil after the 2006 World Cup,” Ze Roberto told Brazilian website UOL.

“It’s difficult to change this mentality, because it’s part of the culture of the Brazilian fans, of the press.

“In my case, I had to kind of face a taboo. From what I see, this taboo hasn’t been broken yet, it exists to this day.”

Ze Roberto went to the 2006 World Cup in Germany aged 32 after returning to Brazil following a long career in Europe, something that also sparked criticism in his home country.

The now 48-year-old added that Alves’ experience will be of great value to a team who are among the favourites to lift the trophy in Qatar.

“Daniel Alves’s experience is crucial for the group. New players have emerged, who are excelling in Europe but will be playing in their first World Cup,” Ze Roberto said.

“You need players with experience to back you up. He’s been called up because of the great results he’s had in his career and because he can still add to the World Cup, both playing and out.”

Brazil will be start their campaign for a record-extending sixth World Cup title on Thursday against Serbia. They also take on Switzerlan­d and Cameroon in Group G.

BRAZIL WILL ONLY PICK TITE SUCCESSOR IN JANUARY: CBF Brazil will only choose the next coach of their national team in January, the Brazilian Football Confederat­ion (CBF) said yesterday, denying rumours of talks with the likes of Pep Guardiola to replace outgoing boss Tite.

Tite, who has coached the “Selecao” since 2016, has announced he will leave the post after the World Cup, leading to a flurry of speculatio­n in Brazil on who could be next.

But the CBF “is 100-percent focused on winning a sixth World Cup under Tite’s command,” it said in a statement yesterday.

CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues, who took office in March, “has never spoken with any football director about the coaching job after the World Cup,” it said.

“Any news to the contrary is a lie,” Rodrigues said in the statement.

“That issue will only be addressed in January.”

The statement came after rumours this week that ex-national team coach Mano Menezes (2010-2012), currently at Brazilian league runners-up Internacio­nal, could return to the job.

Other names floated include Dorival Junior, of Copa Libertador­es champs Flamengo, and Manchester City boss Guardiola - though the latter would reportedly demand too high a price for the CBF.

Tite, 61, surprised the football world in February with the announceme­nt he would leave the job after Qatar.

He has posted an impressive record since taking over from Dunga in 2016: 57 wins, 14 draws and five losses, winning the 2019 Copa America on home soil.

His Brazil side crashed out of the 2018 World Cup in the quarter-finals, losing to Belgium.

But they head to Qatar as favourites after an undefeated qualifying campaign.

 ?? (Reuters) ?? Brazil’s Dani Alves during training at Juventus Center, Turin, Italy.
(Reuters) Brazil’s Dani Alves during training at Juventus Center, Turin, Italy.

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