FIFA Worldcup 2022 Brazil team will have this weakness, may have to face trouble

Sao Paulo. Five-time world champions Brazil’s coach Tite called veteran defender Dani Alves into his World Cup squad, prompting angry and disappointed reactions from across the country. The reason for this was the 39-year-old ‘right back’ Alves’ struggle to play for any club in the past year. But the Brazilian lack of options to include in the team forced the coach to make this decision.

 

At the World Cup, Tite’s most likely choice of defenders would be to keep Danilio at ‘right back’, who became almost a ‘central defender’ at Juventus, and play Alex Sandro at left back. Neither Danilio nor Alex Sandro are ranked among the best in the world in their respective positions, as Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Marcelo and Alves were 10 years ago for Brazil. Alves and Alex Telles are expected to sit on the bench in Qatar, with Eder Militão at ‘right back’ and midfielder Fabinho at left back.

 

Whatever happens at right back for Brazil at the World Cup, he will also face immense pressure playing alongside 38-year-old defender Thiago Silva. Silva’s performances have not been consistent for Chelsea and a 1–4 defeat to Brighton in the Premier League last month highlighted his poor form. Cafu, a member of Brazil’s 2002 World Cup-winning team, said in an interview last month: “I don’t know why we are so short of players in these positions (right and left back). But it is not only with the national team, but we see the same thing in the club.

 

He added that the coach is fitting the midfielder in these positions as he does not know how to work with ‘right and left backs’. Brazil, seeking their first World Cup title in two decades, will begin their Group G campaign in Qatar on November 24 against Serbia before facing Switzerland and Cameroon.