Tite e jogadores Brasil treino 21032017Pedro Martins/MoWa Press

Tite to conduct final Brazil tests versus Russia and Germany

In March, Brazil return to the field for the first time in 2018 as the Brasil Global Tour brings final pre-World Cup tests against Russia and Germany. 

The clashes in Moscow and Berlin will be the last opportunity for coach Tite to test his side prior to naming his final 23 for Russia 2018.


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With the overwhelming majority of his squad thought to have already confirmed their places at the big show, the BGT double-header will see the coach conduct some final experiments, both in terms of approach and personnel.

The decision to meet European opposition was a very deliberate one by the technical staff, who have transformed the five-time world champions since Tite’s June 2016 arrival and are now seeking to permanently banish the ghosts of the ‘7-1’.

Tite is keen to perfect a strategy that can break down a solid line of five defenders, which caused his side problems in the previous BGT stop as the Selecao drew goalless with a dogged England side at Wembley in November. 

"We need to work on the offensive side of our game to perfect some of the attacking moves we showed had against England. We need to create more space if we want to open up a defensive line of five," Tite told Globo .

Russia, in particular, are thought to be preparing to defend in numbers in Moscow, which will provide the perfect test ahead of a World Cup that favourites Brazil will see a number of sides employing a reactive approach against the Selecao, particularly in the group stages.

Reigning world champions Germany, meanwhile, will offer the sort of opposition Tite expects to find in the latter stages, with the coaching staff desperate to test their side against a top European team that can vary their style.

Tite will announce his squad for the European double-header on March 2, with the idea being to summon the players he intends to take to the World Cup.

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