Month: September 2021

Tite just called up the squad for Brazil’s World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela (Oct. 7), Colombia (Oct. 10), and Uruguay (Oct. 14th). Once again, he called up a bunch of players based in England, in the hopes that this time they’ll be allowed to travel internationally and join up the squad. (Note that Russia-based players Malcom and Claudinho, part of his last callup before COVID protocols led to their removal as well, are not here.)

So here’s the 25-man squad:

GKs: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Manchester City), Weverton (Palmeiras)

Fullbacks: Danilo (Juventus), Alex Sandro (Juventus), Émerson (Tottenham), Guilherme Arana (Atlético-MG)

Center-backs: Thiago Silva (Chelsea), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Éder Militão (Real Madrid) Lucas Veríssimo (Benfica)

Midfielders: Casemiro (Real Madrid), Edenilson (Internacional), Fabinho (Liverpool), Fred (Manchester United), Gerson (Olympique de Marselha), Lucas Paquetá (Lyon), Everton Ribeiro (Flamengo)

Attackers: Antony (Ajax), Matheus Cunha (Atlético de Madrid), Raphinha (Leeds), Vinicius Júnior (Real Madrid), Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain), Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City), Gabigol (Flamengo)

Brazil’s upcoming slate of games are enough of a departure from the norm that I’m departing from my usual style of doing things.

First, to make up for the World Cup qualifiers that were canceled due to COVID in both March 2020 and 2021, FIFA has given special dispensation for CONMEBOL to play three qualifiers in this international break instead of the usual two.

Second, because a bunch of countries that are in better shape COVID-wise right now than the UK (including, somehow, Brazil) are high on British do-not-travel lists, Premier League clubs refused to release players for this round of fixtures. Unlike Argentina and Colombia, who were willing to let their PL-based players return to their clubs after the second of the three fixtures, the CBF wanted Brazil’s players to be available for all three games, meaning none of them have been released and we have to do without nine key players.

Because of all that, I won’t be posting individual match previews this week. While this might mean I miss covering an interesting storyline or bit of lineup news, I think the most compelling storylines to follow have been all set up by the unusual squad we’ll be playing with.