Category: Uncategorized (Page 13 of 16)

In case you missed it, Brazil officially qualified for the men’s soccer tournament at this summer’s Tokyo Olympics after a lengthy CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament campaign that briefly looked like it was going to blow up in our faces. After a strong start in the first group stage, where we won all four games and played some very nice football, we could only draw our first two games in the four-team final round, leaving us needing a win against Argentina, to that point the only team to have won all their games, to secure qualification for the Olympics. But despite shaky performances in our previous two games, we stepped up when it mattered (and perhaps Argentina, having already secured their place in Tokyo, took it a bit easy), and we produced a stellar, completely dominant performance in a 3-0 win that could’ve been twice that big.

There’s plenty of reason to celebrate. Coach André Jardine has done a good job with this team, getting them to play attractive, winning football despite never being sure which players he’d have available (clubs aren’t obligated to release players for U-23 games), and his hard work has paid off with a trip to Tokyo. Matheus Henrique and new Lyon signing Bruno Guimarães formed a midfield duo that holds great promise for Brazil’s future. Matheus Cunha and Paulinho, both benchwarmers for their clubs, showed how good they can be when given playing time. Reinier Jesus, who only turned 18 on the day of Brazil’s first game in the competition, didn’t look at all out of place at U-23 level.

But it’s been close to a week, so now it’s time for stage 2 of the fun: baseless fantasy!

Another year, another set of Brazil games to look forward to. And we don’t have long to wait.

It’s a busy week for the various Seleções, and since it’s looking like a busy week for me too, I’m writing up a single, huge preview rather than one for both matchdays.

Let’s start with the side that’ll get the most column inches from me, the senior team.

Brazil vs. Argentina

King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 15, 2019

Kickoff: 12:00 PM EDT / 2:00 PM BRT / 5:00 PM GMT

US TV / Streaming: BeIN Sports

Likely Starting Lineup: Alisson; Danilo, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Alex Sandro; Casemiro, Arthur, Coutinho; Willian, Roberto Firmino, Gabriel Jesus.

Brazil vs. South Korea

Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE, November 19, 2019

Kickoff: 8:30 AM EDT / 10:30 AM BRT / 1:30 PM GMT

US TV / Streaming: BeIN Sports

Likely Starting Lineup: Too early to say, though supposedly it will be heavily rotated

AT LAST

Brazil vs. Nigeria

Singapore National Stadium, Singapore, October 13, 2019

Kickoff: 8:00 AM EDT / 9:00 AM BRT / 12:00 PM GMT

US TV / Streaming: BeIN Sports

Likely Starting Lineup: Ederson; Dani Alves, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Renan Lodi; Casemiro, Arthur, Neymar; Everton Cebolinha, Roberto Firmino, Gabriel Jesus.

Notes and Storylines:

It’s a re-rematch, and this time, the stakes are (checks notes) way lower!

Brazil vs. Peru

L.A. Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, September 10, 2019

Kickoff: 11:00 PM EDT / 12:00 AM BRT / 3:00 AM GMT

US TV / Streaming: Pay-per-view only (post stream links in the comments and save us all $25)

Likely Starting Lineup: Ederson; Fagner, Éder Militão, Marquinhos, Alex Sandro; Casemiro, Allan, Coutinho; Neymar, Roberto Firmino, David Neres.

Available On The Bench:

Goalkeepers: Weverton, Ivan.

Full-backs: Jorge, Dani Alves.

Center-backs: Thiago Silva, Samir.

Midfielders: Fabinho, Arthur, Lucas Paquetá.

Forwards: Richarlison, Vinícius Júnior, Bruno Henrique.

This week, the Seleção travels to the United States to face two South American opponents, in the first friendly games since the Copa América triumph.

The U-23 side is also playing, preparing for the Olympics with two friendlies in Brazil, the first one happening this very evening.

Brazil vs. Colombia (Full International)

Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, September 6, 2019

Kickoff: 8:30 PM EDT / 9:30 PM BRT / 12:30 AM GMT

US TV / Streaming: Pay-per-view only (post stream links in the comments and save us all $25)

Likely Starting Lineup: Ederson; Dani Alves, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Alex Sandro; Casemiro, Arthur, Coutinho; Neymar, Roberto Firmino, Richarlison.

Well, that’s enough time off. Tite and co. have returned to work after winning the Copa América, which means it’s time for me to speculate recklessly about what the next steps are for the Seleção.

I already recapped the highs and lows of the campaign in my last article, and the question now is, where do we go from here? Before the tournament, there rumors that Tite was unhappy that several of his key staff were leaving to pursue opportunities in Europe, and that this might lead to his resignation. But Tite approved of the new faces the CBF brought in to replace his departing staff, particularly Juninho Paulista as the new coordinator of national teams, and combined with Brazil’s victory in the Copa itself, it appears to have been enough to convince him to stay on.

Nonetheless, it feels like turning over a new leaf. The Copa was likely the last hurrah for the bloc of older players who formed the core of the 2018 World Cup team, and Tite will have to familiarize himself with new faces both on the roster and within his own staff in order to prepare Brazil for the 2022 World Cup.

So, what sort of questions are on Tite’s to-do list in the months and years ahead? Well…

It’s done and dusted. Despite occasional bumps along the way and no Neymar, Brazil did the expected and won their ninth Copa América, extending their perfect record as hosts in the process.

It’s a win with big implications for the team and its coach, so this will be the first of two articles on the campaign. This time, we’ll break down the performance. Next time, a look at what’s next.