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MAGAZINE 72
ONE ON ONE
MARCO ASENSIO PAULINHO
GOLDEN BOY
MAKING A COMEBACK
MILAN CASHES IN ON GOLDEN KEEPER
ZLATAN DIEGO COSTA
BARCA BLUES
20NTD18OWN
COU
DEPARTURES AND INJURIES
ENGLAND RISING
THE THREE LIONS LOOK FOR INTERNATIONAL GLORY
TEN OUT OF TEN ITALY 10’S
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TOP 10 CHRISTMAS WISH LIST
THE GOOD, BAD & UGLY ISSUE #72 $9.95 Display until January 03, 2018
CONTENTS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 ISSUE 72
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WORLD CUP QUALIFYING
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MAGAZINE 72
ONE ON ONE
MARCO ASENSIO PAULINHO
GOLDEN BOY
MAKING A COMEBACK
MILAN CASHES IN ON GOLDEN KEEPER
ZLATAN DIEGO COSTA
BARCA BLUES
DEPARTURES AND INJURIES
2018
COUNTDOWN
ENGLAND RISING
THE THREE LIONS LOOK FOR INTERNATIONAL GLORY
TEN OUT OF TEN ITALY 10’S
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TOP 10 CHRISTMAS WISH LIST
THE GOOD, BAD & UGLY ISSUE #72 $9.95 Display until January 03, 2018
06 ENGLAND 08 GERMANY 10 BRAZIL 12 U.S.M.N.T. 14 BY THE NUMBERS
EPL
18 3'S COMPANY 20 ZLATAN 22 AROUND ENGLAND
SERIE A
28 PERFECT 10'S 34 AROUND ITALY
LA LIGA
40 COSTA RETURNS 42 BARCA BLUES 44 ONE ONE ONE WITH MARCO ASENSIO 46 ONE ONE ONE WITH PAULINHO 48 AROUND SPAIN
BUNDESLIGA
54 LEWANDOWSKI 56 GREY SHADES 58 AROUND GERMANY
Champions LEAGUE 62 SPOTLIGHT
EUROPA LEAGUE 68 MAIN STAGE QUEST
MLS
72 ONE ON ONE WITH RUSSELL CANOUSE 74 EURO INVASION 76 AROUND NORTH AMERICA
PAGE 12 BRUCE ARENA RESIGNS AS USA FAILS TO MAKE THE WORLD CUP FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1986
FEATURED
80 CUBA SOCCER 82 TOP 10 CHRISTMAS WISH LIST
IN STORE
84 PRODUCTS
GAME ON
86 ELEVEN
LAST WORD
88 RETAINER TROUBLE
PAGE 7 ENGLAND IS RISING UP TO WHAT THEY WERE BACK IN THE 60'S
PAGE 63 MANY TEAMS ARE IN CONTENTION TO WIN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE THIS YEAR
PAGE 10 THE DUNGA ERA WAS BAD, BUT THIS NEW ERA SEEMS PROMISING
2 Holiday Edition 2017 Soccer360Magazine.com
PAGE 40 DIEGO COSTA RETURNS TO START FRESH IN HIS PAST
PAGE 83 WHATS ON YOUR WISH LIST THIS YEAR?
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KICKOFF MIND THE GAP THE CONTINUED RISE OF EUROPE’S ‘SUPER CLUBS’ THREATENS THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, THE VERY TOURNAMENT POWERING THEIR SUCCESS, GABY MCKAY WRITES. Celtic were thrashed 5-0 in their first Champions League group game by PSG
‘Eight clubs have a realistic chances of winning the Champions League’
S
eptember saw the Champions League proper get under way for the current season. After several rounds of qualifying, which began almost as soon as Real Madrid lifted the trophy in Cardiff back in June, the big boys took to the stage once again. The draw promised excitement. Juventus were paired with Barcelona, while Bayern Munich squared off against Paris SaintGermain. In Group C, Roma, Chelsea and Atletico Madrid formed a classic Group of Death. As the world gathered around its television screens for the first round of matches though, a pervasive, pernicious realisation began to dawn — this is all a bit pointless, isn’t it? Scottish champions Celtic, winners of the European Cup in 1967, were thrashed 5-0 at home by Bayern Munich. Chelsea slaughtered Qarabag 6-0 at Stamford Bridge, and Manchester City battered Feyenoord 4-0 away from home. This was not the European elite clashing on the biggest stage, this was shooting fish in a barrel. We may be reaching a point where the disparity between football’s haves and have-nots truly is insurmountable. Quirks in the draw and the seeding may throw up some exciting group stage clashes, but in reality the line-up for the Round of 16 could be guessed with a reasonable degree of accuracy before a ball has even been kicked. Of those 16, there are probably eight at best with a realistic chance of lifting the trophy at the end of the season. Surprises can still happen of course — just look at Leicester City’s Premier League triumph — but even this early in the season the battle is likely to be between Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Paris SaintGermain and perhaps one of the Manchester clubs. With the knockout rounds not getting underway until early next year, the group stages are starting to feel rather perfunctory. A perfect encapsulation of the increasing wealth gap in football is Celtic. Brendan
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Holiday Edition 2017 Soccer360Magazine.com
Paris SaintGermain signed Monaco’s brightest young star, Kylian Mbappe
SOCCER360
MAGAZINE
Only seven or eight clubs have a realistic chance of lifting the Champions League trophy
TM
EDITOR Steven Davies
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Rob Paton MARKETING DIRECTOR Mario Calabretta ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Bill Asaro GRAPHIC DESIGN Nick Libertucci Gary Robinson SUBSCRIPTION COORDINATOR Tamara Hausner WEB MASTERS Nick Libertucci, Frank Calabretta CONTRIBUTERS Mike Barnes, Susy Campanale, Luca Cetta, Oli Coates, Sean Duffy, Thomas Unsworth, Stephen Donovan, Bradley King, Les Jones, Antonio Labbate, Alasadair Mackenzie, Lauren Maharaj, Alex Mott, Luca Persico, Jerrard Peters, George Rinaldi, Terrance Ross, Aman Sehdev, Andrew Tuft, Cronan Yu, Diego Jokas, Andrea Tallarita, Marco D’Onofrio, Gaby McKay, Livio Caferoglu PHOTOGRAPHY Action Images, Getty Images, Dale MacMillan, Richiardi, Sun Media, Dawn Westrbrook - Refs Cards
Rodgers’ side utterly dwarf any other in Scotland in terms of revenue. It’s no coincidence then that the Hoops hoovered up every domestic trophy last season without losing once. Transfer that to Europe though, and suddenly Celtic begin to look like minnows swimming among sharks. Prior to the start of this season’s Champions League, the Glasgow side had managed just one win from their previous 12 group stage games. That same financial gulf which aids them in Scotland is overwhelming in the Champions League, and much the same could be said for Basel, Qarabag or Shakhtar Donetsk. At the top of the food chain a group of ‘super clubs’ is emerging, reducing competition both domestically and in Europe. Juventus have won Serie A for the past six years, while Bayern Munich have five backto-back triumphs in the Bundesliga. In Ligue 1, Monaco managed to deny PSG yet another title, only for the Parisians to respond by spending €400m on Neymar and Kylian Mbappé — Monaco’s brightest young star. In Spain the Primera title has gone to either Real Madrid or Barcelona in all but one season since 2003-04, and Leicester’s triumph remains a glorious exception rather than the Premier League rule — since 2004 it’s the only title which hasn’t gone to Manchester United, Manchester City or Chelsea. It appears than that football is heading increasingly toward a hegemony in which an elite band of super clubs fight it out for the trophies which matter. Is there any way to reverse the trend? American sports, of course, are remarkably socialist in their approach. In the NFL, the teams share television money, ticket sales and merchandising revenues, with the worst team from the previous season awarded the first draft pick. This is surely partly behind the fact no side has retained the Super Bowl since the New England Patriots in 2005. There’s no relegation in the NFL though, making redistribution more easy. There have been calls in Serie A to reduce the size of the division to 18 or 16 teams, given the struggles newly promoted sides have experienced in recent years. This would in theory allow fewer minnows, with only the very best sides competing.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Dale Evans Ronaldo has been lifting Champions League Trophies for most of his career
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Is that really an answer though? Making the club even more exclusive, just because some can’t afford the membership fees? If anything, such a move might only entrench the current situation. What’s certain is that with the Premier League top six pushing for a bigger slice of the international TV rights, the financial gap won’t be closing any time soon. Soccer360Magazine.com Holiday Edition 2017
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RUSSIA 2018
1966 And All That. ENGLAND BOASTS BIG-NAME PLAYERS AND THE MOST HYPED LEAGUE IN THE WORLD BUT PRECIOUS FEW INTERNATIONAL TROPHIES. ROB MASON ASKS WHY THAT IS, AND IF IT IS LIKELY TO CHANGE…
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ptimism in England is always in plentiful supply before major tournaments as the nation that codified football embark upon trying to show the world they are still the best at it. Such high hopes are usually helped by England easily qualifying for the finals of both the World Cup and European Championships. The trouble is once they get to a major tournament, more often than not England fail miserably. They have won a major trophy since 1966, when they were hosts. Only twice since then have England even reached the semi-finals of a major competition — and the most recent of those was in 1996, more than 20 years ago, and when England again had the home-field advantage. But why is this? Of course, there are always great teams around who prove to be worthy winners, but surely England should have had more of a say in tournament latter stages? This summer, for the first time since 1966 at any level, England won a World Cup when the Under-20s raised the trophy in South Korea. Shortly after that the Under-21s were unluckily beaten in the semi-final of European Under-21 Championships, suffering the familiar fate of losing to Germany on penalties. But the last two summers the annual Toulon Tournament, for Under-21s, has been won by England. The Under-20 World Cup was won largely by Under-18s and for good measure, at the last Women’s World Cup, England earned a creditable third. So why can’t the men’s senior team do it too? The obvious and most cited reason is that while England do well in qualifying games, interspersed throughout the season, by the time the finals of a tournament come around the players are fatigued. Fabio Capello and Sven-Goran Eriksson, the highly-regarded former England coaches from Italy and Sweden have both used this as a reason for previous failures. Italy and Germany have won the World Cup four times each while Spain and France have also lifted the trophy in the last two decades, and their domestic Leagues either have a winter break, fewer teams or a generally easier schedule. The days of English players playing 42 top-flight League games a season have long gone — 38 games has long been the norm. England players rarely play in many domestic Cup games, their managers preferring to rotate the squad for the lesser League Cup fixtures, and while those with Champions League clubs have that competition to contend with, so do the top players of the other leading nations. And yet England still can’t get it right and often struggle to make the last four of a major tournament, let alone win anything. The lack of a mid-season break may well be a factor. Players don’t get the chance to switch off mentally or physically during the season and even a rotation policy doesn’t help that much when training remains fullon throughout the year. There’s also the Catch-22 of top international players not benefitting from an international break, as they still have to travel, train and play,
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Holiday Edition 2017 Soccer360Magazine.com
‘‘Only twice since 1966 have England even reached the semi-finals of a major competition’’
Paul Gascoigne came to symbolise England’s near-misses.
LEFT: Gareth Southgate is aware of the strain the season will put on his England players ahead of Russia 2018.
RUSSIA 2018
‘The lack of a mid-season break may well be a factor’
and deal with the pressure of an expectant nation. While the lack of a mid-season break is an undeniable difference between England and the other major Leagues, a bigger influence is the pace and physicality of football in England. The tempo is faster. The climate — cold and wet for much of the football season — doesn’t induce the slower pace of the balmier Mediterranean countries, and with a slower pace comes a more tacticallyfocused approach. The crowds, too, don’t tend to appreciate games of chess played out on a football pitch. Supporters have been reared on all-out action and expect
ABOVE: Sven-Goran Eriksson wanted his England players to get more rest before tournaments.
‘Gareth Southgate could be forgiven for secretly hoping English teams make early exits from European competition’
their players to give everything week in, week out. That might also be the case in Italy or Spain, but the blood-and-thunder nature of English football increases the impact. Such an approach is likely to bring more injuries, both in terms of broken bones as a result of high-speed collisions, and in terms of muscle fatigue due to the relentless pace of English football. To his credit England Coach Gareth Southgate is refusing to use this as an excuse. Already he is putting out positive messages. Southgate has heaped praise on Tottenham Hotspur and their boss Mauricio Pochettino for the way in which he has helped to develop the conditioning of star striker Harry Kane, along with other England players who have benefited from working with the Argentine, including Dele Alli, Eric Dier, Kyle Walker and Danny Rose. Southgate also plans to issue individual conditioning programmes to his players as a long season ends. The Premier League concludes a month and a day before the World Cup kicks off on June 14. While the Europa League Final and FA Cup Final are scheduled for May 16 and 19 respectively, any players involved in the Champions League Final will be focused on that until May 26, meaning that the mandatory rest period FIFA have instigated between 21-27 May won’t apply to players representing Champions League finalists. Southgate could be forgiven for secretly hoping English teams make early exits from European competition. Southgate could consider drafting some fresh legs into his squad, maybe even the stars of the Under-20 World Cup-winning side who, by-and-large and despite their summer success, remain on the fringes of their club. Not even Dominic Calvert-Lewin, scorer of the winning goal in the final, looks like playing enough games to qualify as fatigued, even as Everton struggle without a replacement for Romelu Lukaku while Ronald Koeman shows signs he doesn’t fully trust the youngster to lead the line. Similarly, on the other side of Liverpool, Dominic Solanke, winner of the Golden Ball as the Player of the Tournament, swapped Chelsea for the Reds but began the season on the bench, struggling for Premier League minutes. World Cup 2018 then looks like coming too early for the heroes of England’s Under-20 World Cup win and if any one of them makes the squad for Russia it will be a huge surprise. Time will tell if they are involved by 2022, when England might still be waiting for another senior international trophy.
RASHFORD THE YOUTHFUL HOPE MARCUS RASHFORD HAS BECOME ONE OF THE FIRST NAMES ON ENGLAND’S TEAM SHEET DESPITE HIS TENDER YEARS, AND WILL HAVE A BIG ROLE TO PLAY FOR THE THREE LIONS.
There is a player likely to feature for England at World Cup 2018 who was young enough to have played in the Under-20 World Cup, but who had already progressed to the senior side. Marcus Rashford only left his teenage years at the end of October but is already an England regular. Home-grown Rashford has become arguably the fans’ favourite at Old Trafford, one of the players the crowd are most excited to see on the team sheet — and on the ball. There’s every chance Rashford emerges as one of the stars of next summer’s World Cup, even if he is stationed on the left of midfield rather than through the middle. Rashford’s industry, invention and unpredictability when running with the ball have made him increasingly important to Gareth Southgate and he appears to have even won around the hard-to-please Jose Mourinho, who doesn’t have the best reputation for trusting young players. United’s attack started the season in sensational form and Rashford was a big part of why. Should anything happen to England’s first choice No 9 Harry Kane and Rashford could get the nod to lead the attack, but the evidence so far suggests he’ll be crucial wherever he plays.
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RUSSIA 2018
Low’s Challenge ONLY ONE TEAM HAS EVER RETAINED THE WORLD CUP — BRAZIL IN 1962. JONATHAN SWINDLEHURST ASKS IF GERMANY COULD MAKE HISTORY AGAIN AT RUSSIA 2018.
‘‘Joachim Low is still at the helm and Germany look stronger than ever"
Joachim Low has led Germany in two World Cups and was Jurgen Klinsmann’s assistant in 2006
A
s the clock ticked on towards extra time, it was always going to take something special to win it. When the ball dropped over the shoulder of Mario Gotze, the diminutive German gave the watching world exactly that. Gotze, quickly becoming the darling of German football, showed perfect technique and ice-cool nerves to take the ball down on his chest before sliding a deft left foot finish into the corner of the net. The Maracana burst into rapture as the net bulged. Lionel Messi’s Argentina were to be denied a World Cup triumph in Brazil, partially softening the humiliation Joachim Low’s Germany dealt to the hosts in the Semi-Final. A war-torn, battle-scarred Bastian Schweinsteiger drove the side forward while Philipp Lahm lifted the trophy, and Germany were world champions once again. Fast forward three years. Low is still at the helm and Germany look stronger than ever as preparations for Russia 2018 continue apace. But can Die Mannschaft be the first team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the trophy? Winners face a huge challenge to retain their title four years later. To win the biggest
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prize in football, it’s likely you’ll need world class players at the peak of their game. Think Ronaldo in 2002, Zinedine Zidane in 1998, Gianluigi Buffon in 2006 and Lahm in 2014. Four years on, they may have retired, or simply no longer be at those heights. The first challenge for holders is to replace world class performers, with other world class players hoping they stay injury-free and hit form at the right time. No easy feat. The second challenge is the soil on which they tread. Other than Brazil winning in Sweden in 1958, no South American team has triumphed in Europe. Before Germany in 2014, no European nation had won in South, Central or North America. Until 2002, the identity of the nation hosting the World Cup followed the same general pattern — the Americas were first, then Europe four years later, and so on. That meant that if you won close to home, to retain you’d have to win in unfamiliar surroundings on a different continent, factoring in the climate, altitude and numerous other variables. Having managed to win in Sweden, Brazil then successfully defended their crown in the familiar surroundings of Chile. When Sepp Blatter pledged to bring the
Bastian Schweinsteiger put in a battling performance in the final at Brazil 2014
RUSSIA 2018
‘‘Tournament football is a strange beast"
tournament to new continents, European holders twice travelled to completely unknown footballing environments – France heading to Japan and South Korea in 2002, and Italy heading to South Africa in 2010. Winning a World Cup is one thing, retaining it away from your home continent is huge. Up until Germany 2006, the holders were also hamstrung purely by being the holders. Before this tournament they simply qualified automatically four years later due to their status as winners. While this sounds great, in practice it means two years of friendlies leading up to the tournament. It’s extremely difficult to get that competitive edge and function as a cohesive unit without the challenge of competitive football for that length of time. Just ask Roger Lemerre’s French team from 2002. So things aren’t looking too bad for Germany. They triumphed in South America and have the opportunity to defend in their home continent – having already secured the Confederations Cup this summer in Russia. They’ve had to qualify just like everyone else and look in imperious form, scoring 35 times in their first eight qualifiers and conceding only twice. These are big plus points but the biggest question is, do they have the players and the squad to succeed when tournament time comes? Since triumphing in Rio, Low’s side have lost inspirational leaders in Lahm and Schweinsteiger as well as tournament stalwarts Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose, but still boast a number of the world’s top players and much of the side from 2014. Manuel Neuer continues to be one of the planet’s best goalkeepers, Toni Kroos has gone from strength to strength at Real Madrid and Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels are arguably one of the game’s strongest pairings at centre-back. Mesut Ozil and Thomas Muller may be having difficult times with their clubs but they always perform on the international stage. The core of the side remains strong. It’s the strength in depth where we see a potentially better side than the 2014 vintage. Low can now call on Leroy Sane, Ilkay Gundogan, Marco Reus and Timo Werner, as well as counting on the emergence of Julian Draxler. Since making the squad in 2014 Draxler captained the successful
Confederations Cup-winning side in 2017 and made a big money move to Paris SaintGermain. He’s expected to have a big impact in Russia. If Low manages to make it to Russia with his chosen squad injury-free and hitting form at the right time, they clearly stand a huge chance of retaining their crown. But tournament football is a strange beast. It’s not always the strongest squad on paper that triumphs, but the one that rides their luck and is decisive in the crucial moments – just as Gotze was in Rio. It’s potentially here that the loss of Klose and the concern of Muller’s form will worry Low. Klose could always be relied upon to find a goal in the crucial moment — give him an inch of space and he’ll find the room to hurt the opposition. As it stands this current squad lacks a poacher of his exquisite ability. Muller on the other hand is a World Cup goal machine, having scored five in each of the last two tournaments. To triumph in Russia, he’ll need to lead the way with a similar haul. If he does, we could see Germany equalling Brazil’s record of five World Cup triumphs as well as becoming only the second side – and the first Europeans – to retain the trophy. If he doesn’t, the door is likely to be left open.
Mario Gotze scored a sublime winner in the final at the Maracana
WORLD CUP ROLL CALL YEAR 2014 2010 2006 2002 1998 1994 1990 1986 1982 1978 1974 1970 1966 1962 1958 1954 1950 1946 1942 1938 1934 1930
HOSTS Brazil South Africa Germany Japan / South Korea France USA Italy Mexico Spain Argentina Germany Mexico England Chile Sweden Switzerland Brazil Not held Not held France Italy Uruguay
WINNERS Germany Spain Italy Brazil France Brazil Germany Argentina Italy Argentina Germany Brazil England Brazil Brazil Germany Uruguay Italy Italy Uruguay
FINAL GER 1-0 ARG ESP 1-0 NED 1-1 [ITA 5-3 FRA]* BRA 2-0 GER FRA 3-0 BRA 0-0 [BRA 3-2 ITA]* GER 1-0 ARG ARG 3-2 GER ITA 3-1 GER ARG 3-1 NED GER 2-1 NED BRA 4-1 ITA ENG 4-2 GER BRA 3-1 CZE BRA 5-2 SWE GER 3-2 HUN URA 2-1 BRA ITA 4-2 NED ITA 2-1 CZE URA 4-2 ARG
Julian Draxler captained Germany at the Confederations Cup 2017
Soccer360Magazine.com Holiday Edition 2017
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RUSSIA 2018
The New Era THE DUNGA YEARS WERE UGLY AND ULTIMATELY DOOMED TO FAILURE BUT TITE, HAVING LEARNED FROM HIS OWN DISAPPOINTMENT, HAS SHAPED A BRAZIL READY TO TAKE ON THE WORLD, PETER FERNIE WRITES.
‘The Selecao need to use the passion inside to fuel their dreams and not destroy them’
ABOVE: Will Brazil lift the World Cup again next summer? LEFT: Tite took over and revitalised the Brazil squad
‘Tite’s Brazil have been every bit as effective as NEEDED 10
Holiday Edition 2017 Soccer360Magazine.com
S
ix games in to the 2018 World Cup Qualifying campaign, Brazil were in a difficult spot. A 2-0 defeat in Chile followed by draws against Argentina and Uruguay left Coach Dunga in a precarious position and as Brazil faced Paraguay in Asuncion in March 2016 he was thought to be in the last chance saloon. Despite a late rally to salvage a 2-2 draw, it was not enough to save the 1994 World Cup winning captain. It took three months before the decision was made official but on June 14 2016, Dunga was removed from his position. Six days later, Tite [full name Adenor Leonardo Bacchi] was appointed. It was a popular and long-awaited decision in Brazil. During a 27-year coaching career, Tite has proved himself a flexible and intelligent tactician. Positive spells with southern giants Gremio and Internacional preceded his first spell at Corinthians, where he truly became a household name. Between December 2011 and December 2012, the Caixas do Sol native built an efficient and predominantly counterattacking side which achieved an incredible treble of the Brazilian Championship, Copa Libertadores and Club World Cup. By 2013, however, his penchant for defensive security had begun to work against him. Corinthians were no longer so adept on the counter and fans had become bored. After a campaign containing 10 goalless draws and only 27 goals scored, Corinthians finished 10th. He decided to take time out from the game to study his craft and learn from other coaches. In particular, Carlo Ancelotti significantly influenced his ideas in terms of midfield control and numerical superiority. In December 2014 Tite returned to Corinthians. The Sao Paulo giants clinched the 2015 Brazilian Championship with the statistically most emphatic performance in the tournament’s history. He did this with an adjusted style of play — a higher defence, more combination play and possession used as both a means of attack and defence. This version of Tite is who the fans and Press wanted to lead the nation. He preaches patience in the build-up with numerous options offered to the man in possession, ensuring both efficient ball circulation and a compact defensive organisation in transition, principles of play which he has utilised on the Brazilian bench. The current Brazil side is a return to what older fans still reminisce about from the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s. They generally utilise a 4-1-4-1 formation. In goal, Roma man Allison is the preferred option. The full-back positions are filled by Dani Alves and Marcelo, who bring added value to the attack with their technical ability, dribbling and stamina. A central defensive pair of Miranda and Marquinhos move the line high and with Casemiro slightly in front of them a fantastic defensive base has been created. A central midfield of Renato Augusto and Paulinho is supported in the wide areas by Neymar on the left and either Willian or Philippe Coutinho on the right, and from both sides Brazil look to their wide men
RUSSIA 2018 to move inside between the lines of the opponent. In the central attacking slot, Gabriel Jesus offers pace, imagination and finishing ability and is the favoured option. Cesar Menotti, Coach of 1978 World Cup winners Argentina, spoke highly of the side Tite has fashioned. “Tite has moved the defensive line 20 metres higher and brought the lines closer together,” he explained. “Without forgetting the difference in quality, they look like the Brazil of 1970.” While the natives enjoy watching the national side again, the tactical manoeuvres of Tite have been every bit as effective as they have been entertaining. His opening nine qualifying matches on the Brazil bench brought nine straight victories, with 26 goals scored and only two conceded. This excellent run saw Brazil become the first side to qualify for the tournament, the hosts apart. It’s a well-balanced team but there still remains room for individuals to stand out and in a side full of top class players, it is Neymar who still rises above the rest as the leader and reference point. The Paris SaintGermain man brings quality in both feet, pace, goals, assists and leadership. Neymar apart though, it’s down the centre of Tite’s team we find the decisive factors in making his Brazil function. In defence, the protection offered to Miranda and Marquinhos by Casemiro in front has been key to the Brazilian revival. Ahead of Casemiro, in midfield Renato Augusto and Paulinho have been a vital combination over the last 15 months. The two players contrast perfectly to provide the perfect combination. Renato Augusto is excellent technically and fundamental in directing the smooth and patient build up play his Coach craves. Paulinho offers physicality and thrust, consistently displaying a gift for finding space in the final third. In nine competitive games under Tite, the exTottenham Hotspur man has five goals and two assists. The shape of the side is perfect for Paulinho and leaves him the space to do what he does best. Expectations of this Brazil are high as the 21st World Cup approaches. We should see a balanced, fluid side that can control the ball and wear down opposition, possessing the offensive variety to break through any opponent. Defensively, they are extremely efficient. In terms of teamwork and talent Brazil appear dressed for success. A question that remains to be answered is whether they possess the necessary emotional control to triumph. In 2010, seemingly cruising against Holland, Brazil lost their discipline. Filipe Melo was sent off for a horror foul as Dunga’s side suffered from an emotional collapse in a 2-1 defeat. Four years later against Germany in the semifinal, admittedly shorn of Neymar and Thiago Silva, Brazil played as if crushed by the weight of the nation’s dreams and were annihilated by a rampant Mannschaft. This time, the Selecao need to use the passion inside to fuel their dreams and not destroy them. If they do it will take an outstanding opponent to prevent Brazil winning their sixth World Cup.
Dunga was unable to replicate his 1994 World Cup success as captain
BELOW: Great Defence comes from great defencemen. RIGHT: A Brazil World Cup win would need a major contribution from Neymar
KING NEYMAR TITE’S BRAZIL IS PACKED FULL OF TALENT BUT NEYMAR IS THE UNDISPUTED KING. AFTER LEAVING BARCELONA FOR PARIS SAINTGERMAIN, THE FORWARD HAS NEW CHALLENGES IN MIND…
Since making his debut for Santos in 2009 as a 17-year-old, Neymar has had a clear plan to become the best player in the world and win the Ballon d’Or. He choose to remain with Santos when making his first steps in the professional game. It proved a wise decision as Santos lifted the Copa de Brasil and the Copa Libertadores in 2010 and 2011 respectively, with Neymar firmly establishing himself as the finest player in South American club football. By 2013, he was ready to move abroad. He wished to test himself and improve but in an environment where all the pressure wouldn’t be placed on his shoulders. Barcelona craved his services and the Catalan club were the perfect choice for Neymar’s strategy. Barcelona was the team of Lionel Messi and only Messi could be the star in this team. Over the next four years, he played a massive part in the club’s success, winning nine trophies and proving himself one of the game’s elite players. However, he had long known this would only ever be a stepping stone to a greater challenge. To be crowned the game’s top talent, he needs to be the star man of his club side. In joining Paris Saint-Germain, the magician will be expected to decide key matches at home and particularly abroad. PSG have Champions League aspirations. Meanwhile, at the 2018 World Cup, Neymar will be the key player in an outstanding Brazil side. The Champions League, the World Cup and the Ballon d’Or are all in Neymar’s sights. Winning the first two for club and country respectively would surely guarantee the third. Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are in their 30s and the game is ready for a new king. Is Neymar ready to rule? Soccer360Magazine.com Holiday Edition 2017
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