ANALYSIS - Raisa Simplicio & Rupert Fryer
Brazil coach Tite faced a daunting debut as Brazil boss in September 2016. Still reeling form the 7-1 defeat to Germany, the Selecao had slumped to just two wins in their opening six World Cup qualifiers.
There was talk of a first ever World Cup without its most successful team. Tite was charged with turning it all around, but the Olympics had left him very little time to work with his players.
With his first match on the bench coming at the altitude of Quito against the then table-topping Ecuador, Tite looked back as he attempted to take Brazil forward.
He introduced the 4-1-4-1 that had brought him so much success with Corinthians, and selected a central midfield duo consisting of a couple of his former players - Renato Augusto and Paulinho would help translate his ideas to the rest.
A 3-0 win saw a new era for Brazilian football off to a perfect start. And Tite had instantly struck on a winning formula.
His side that day lined up: Alisson, Daniel Alves, Marquinhos, Miranda, Marcelo, Casemiro, Paulinho, Renato Augusto, Coutinho Neymar and Gabriel Jesus.
Over the following 18 months, there would be just one change. In Tite’s third game, against Colombia, Willian, who was suffering personal problems and a subsequent dip in form, was replaced by Philippe Coutinho on the right.
Eight consecutive victories would then see Brazil become the first team to join hosts Russia at World Cup 2018 – and only once qualification was assured did the experiments begin. The first XI, however, appeared set in stone.
But March’s Brasil Global Tour friendlies saw two major changes to the pecking order. November’s goalless draw with England saw Brazil struggle to break through a five-man defence and that has plagued Tite ever since.
Thiago Silva was introduced in place of Marquinhos at the heart of the defence – the PSG man’s greater ability to pass out from the back tipping the balance as Tite sought to increase his side’s creativity against sides that play with a low block.
The hitherto immovable Renato Augusto was also dropped from the side, replaced initially by Fernandinho and now seemingly by Coutinho. The return to form of Willian has made the Chelsea man hard to leave out and Coutinho offers more dynamism in central orders.
Coupled with the fact that Renato is playing his football in China and has seen considerably less domestic action than his colleagues in 2018 may well have now cost him his first-team place.
An injury to Dani Alves then opened up the role of right back, which is now being contested by Danilo and Fagner.
And there is even now perhaps a battle at centre-forward. Gabriel Jesus has been Tite’s pet project since he took charge. The then Palmeiras starlet was a surprise inclusion for Tite’s debut with Ecuador but has been vital to the team’s evolution.
Gabriel’s pace and desire to run in behind the defence saw opposition sides retreat, allowing Brazil to move further up the pitch and get more compact, reducing the gaps between the defence, midfield and attack.
However, the sensational form of Roberto Firmino now has Tite scratching his head. Firmino came off the bench to score a fine goal against Croatia last week and he is now pushing hard to be considered for the starting line-up.
Brazil’s World Cup side had appeared a closed shop for almost the entirety of Tite’s tenure. But now there as many as five roles that are now longer set in stone.
Getty
On Sunday, against Austria, Tite looks set to continue with the team that ended the match against Croatia last week: Alisson; Danilo, Thiago Silva, Miranda, Marcelo; Casemiro; Willian, Paulinho, Coutinho, Neymar; Gabriel Jesus.
But during the match he will make some changes as he looks to cement the XI that will go in search of Brazil’s sixth world title in Russia this month.
Follow Brazil's World Cup preparations by joining us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=640&quality=60)
