Neymar and Brazil won’t go nuts
Coach Tite is coolness personified as he tries to take the heat off his under-pressure stars
It’s just a few days short of four years since Brazil suffered the footballing disaster which gave the nation the expression ‘7 x 1’ — which is slang for anything humiliating or defeating in their country — and still the ghost of that thrashing against Germany hasn’t entirely been exorcised.
Brazil are still looking for redemption. their enormous travelling army brings colossal expectation.
Every seat and stair in the press conference theatre here was occupied long before coach tite sat down to talk yesterday.
the squad were mobbed by 300 Brazilian fans when they emerged from Kazan airport. tite acknowledged the exceptional pressure which his players must carry when he declared that the team which wins the World Cup will be the one which deals best with the strain.
‘the biggest challenge of a World Cup is fortitude,’ he said. ‘the pressure is immense. Extraordinary. And it proliferates through (to) the (players’) families. I say: “Don’t listen (to what people say). Don’t watch, because there’s a lot of psychological pressure”.’
the 57-year-old radiates a calm which makes him a very good man to lead this squad. He quoted the great Argentinian coach Carlos Bianchi, who had once told him to ‘be mentally strong, remain balanced’ and focused.
‘that really got imprinted on my mind,’ reflected tite.
‘We should have some common sense. Neither euphoria, nor the fear of losing. Keeping your head cool.’
Bianchi was no great tactician yet was known for the way he used his force of personality to inspire players.
For him, the important thing was to cultivate el liderazgo — a term which literally means ‘leadership’ but was actually about developing a cult of personality. tite brings el liderazgo, too. And despite all the talk of Neymar’s gradual return to his peak level, it is that which could prove critical against Roberto Martinez’s Belgium in today’s quarter-final.
When faced with that semi-final against Germany four years ago, Brazil were in a state of mental disintegration, overwhelmed by national expectation on home soil, deprived of Neymar through injury and trying very hard to convince themselves that they could drive on without him through pure force of will.
tite has embedded a far more genuine team ethic. His players are so committed to him that you feel that this time they might just deliver without their iconic No10.
One of the few sources of argument back home is the question of whether Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino should start, rather than Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus — who has yet to score.
tite seems intent on sticking with Jesus, although he described an encounter with Firmino which illustrated how he carries those stuck on an exceptional bench.
‘After the (group stage) match against serbia, I gave Firmino a hug and said: “(You are on the bench) because the coach must be able to read the needs of the game”,’ related tite. ‘He said: “I am really, really happy, coach”.’ tite has selection problems in central midfield this evening, with the suspended Casemiro now replaced by Manchester City’s Fernandinho and Paulinho a slight doubt after ‘having a hard time moving’ against Mexico in the round of 16. Paris saint-Germain central defender Marquinhos will deputise in that area, if necessary. Casemiro’s absence gives Belgium one of their few glimmers of hope tonight.
Fernandinho is more likely to advance higher up the pitch to press and win back possession than the deep-lying Casemiro.
that might create some space in front of defence for Kevin de Bruyne to exploit.
the other exploitable flank is the Brazil right, where full-back Fagner — here because Dani Alves has missed the tournament — looks weak.
Eden Hazard must have been encouraged by the way Mexico’s Carlos Vela and Hirving Lozano exploited Fagner in samara on Monday. tite mounted another staunch defence of Neymar against accusations that he cheats — with data emerging yesterday that he has spent a total of 13 minutes and 50 seconds rolling around on the pitch during this tournament. ‘You should look at the videos,’ retorted tite. ‘Just look at the images. What makes me happy is having him playing at his best.’
He claimed his star player is also delivering far more to the overall team collective than in the past.
‘He is even contributing to defensive transitions and counter-attacking,’ said the coach.
‘the sense of teamwork: that’s the best virtue.’
tite’s assistant Cleber Xavier said that Willian and Fernandinho were providing tactical insight to allow the Brazilians to shut down their Belgian Premier League team-mates Hazard and De Bruyne.
Brazil have only played Belgium at one World Cup. that was back in 2002 when the south Americans won 2-0.
Brazilian journalists tried to stoke up a war between the sides by putting it to defender Miranda that Vincent Kompany had suggested that his nation were already looking beyond the south Americans to a semi-final.
‘We know there is all kind of provocation. I think it’s a way of hiding your fear,’ said Miranda.
But tite then interjected to ask if
Kompany had actually said this. The coach was right to put out the fire.
The Belgian had merely said that progressing to the semis was more on his mind than international retirement.
‘What I look for in us is to keep growing,’ reflected Tite.
‘Keep the standard and keep growing. Then, when you go to bed and ask yourself have you put in your top performance, you have the feeling you have done your best.’
Brazil could have used a coach like this four years ago.