Brazil v Colombia, 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers - Back to back victories for Tite's Brazil

Brazil dominated. Brazil unleashed the Ginga. Brazil gave all of us joy. I fall in love with Brazil everyday and today it was no difference.  

Gradually Tite is bringing Brazil back to rhythm. The more you see Brazil, the more you fall in love with the men in yellow. Today, in the match against Colombia, the flying wing backs of Brazil, Danil Alves and Marcelo, were crucial to keep Brazil in rhythm. Whenever, Colombia pressed Brazil hard, Dani and Marcelo went up with immediate effect and when these two ran high up the pitch, Casemiro dropped down to play the role as a central defender, while Paulinho acted as a defensive midfielder.

Marcelo, Dani, Casemiro and Paulinho complemented each other so well, even when Colombia equalized, I never felt Brazil would lose this match. Marcelo and Dani’s attacking mode transformed into pure wingers and more often took the position in the centre forward region, which helped Neymar, Coutinho and Gabriel Jesus to press more while deep down, Rentao Augusto and Paulinho controlled things as because Casemiro was the marshall behind them.

 There is a difference between a pure defensive midfielder and box to box midfielder.

A genuine defensive midfielder shuts the ball down rather than winning it, whereas, a box to box midfielder acts both as a sheet anchor and defender. The last time, a genuine box to box midfielder glorified Brazil was Paulo Roberto Falcao. This boy Casemiro is like Falcao – a fulcrum in that deep position. And his ability to keep James Rodriguez quiet for most of the times, indicates his man marking abilities, which the Selecao were badly missing, since the likes of Dunga, Falcao, Alemao Edmilson and Mauro Silva left.

Then, there was that ability to win the ball back in one-to-one situation. Casemiro has been excellent in winning the ball back today.

The debate on Paulinho’s selectionis still on. But Tite is one of those coaches who knows how to utilize one’s own strengths. Paulinho is a shutter in the midfield and today, he showed how to shut the Colombian grafters when things looked ominous.

Day by day, Renato Augusto is becoming the regista for Brazil. I preferred Ganso here, but Renato has been so good here, that, I am out of my words. Brazil’s playmakers since the emergence of Didi, had always been genuine attackers. They were more about genuine number 10 rather than too Pirlo-ish. But Renato is un-Didiish-and-un-Gersonish. He is more of a Pirlo variety who has the vision and brain to produce the passes.

The midfield never lost possession and thankfully, Brazil’s traditional possession based football is back. Short passes, build up play, triangles etc all were there to give us immense joy.

What can I say about Neymar? 48 goals from 72 games with 27 assists for the national team rather than some media-hyped club team at the age of 24, indicates how bigger a legend this player is! He was like a Zico, Pele and Zizinho – wandered around the pitch like a flying canarinho. Neymar is destined to achieve greatness and I am confident, he will help Brazil to lift the World Cup in 2018.  

Thank You

Faisal Caesar