What Are Brazil’s Chances of Success in Russia?
It would be safe to say that Brazilian football hit rock bottom after the humiliation at the hands of Germany in the semi-finals of the 2014 World Cup.
A 7-1 humbling in Belo Horizonte marked the end of Luiz Felipe Scolari’s reign and saw former Brazil midfielder Dunga charged with the task of bringing back the good times.
However the 53-year-old failed to inspire his men and, playing a defensive-minded system alien to the South American nation, they were eliminated from the 2015 Copa America by Paraguay before suffering the embarrassment of not even making the knockout stage of the Copa America Centenario the following year.
That saw the end of Dunga’s time in charge and the CBF turned to Adenor Leonardo Bacchi – commonly known at Tite – who had recently enjoyed a successful third spell in charge of Corinthians.
The 55-year-old set about making small changes to the way the side played and took the decision to recall former Tottenham midfielder Paulinho – out of favour under Dunga.
The selection raised a few eyebrows as the 28-year-old now plies his trade in China with Guangzhou Evergrande, but the doubters have been made to eat their own words with nine straight victories under Tite’s leadership.
The Seleção have already secured a place at the 2018 World Cup having taken 33 points from 14 qualifying games and, with Neymar the undoubted superstar of the side, they must be considered as one of the favourites to lift the trophy in Russia.
The 25-year-old Barcelona forward is a goalscoring machine at international level and has already bagged 52 from 77 outings and, for those who like a punt on international football, check out the Bet365 current free bet offers for all the markets available on the World Cup.
His fitness and form will be key to Brazil’s chances next year but the squad has a strong feel to it with several English-based players.
Chelsea’s Willian, Manchester City’s Fernandinho and Liverpool duo Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino are all likely to play in Russia while, away from the Premier League, defensive stalwarts Thiago Silva, Marcelo and Filipe Luis provide a solid rearguard for Tite to work with.
Comparisons with the last World Cup-winning Brazil side will obviously be made but, while there have been massive strides taken over the past few months, they have a long way to go before being spoken about in the same breath as Scolari’s 2002 vintage.
The veteran tactician had the likes of Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Gilberto Silva and Roberto Carlos to call upon, while stars such as Kaka and Juninho had to make do with a place on the bench.
It was a star-studded side that feared nobody and could call on individual brilliance to turn a game.
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The current Brazil side is undoubtedly more about the collective but with Neymar the undoubted focal point and the one man who can unlock a defence on his own.
He will need help in Russia, with Germany and Spain certain to be strong, but, if the likes of Coutinho and Paulinho can maintain their form, there is no reason to suggest that the men in yellow will not be there or there abouts when the dust settles on the world’s greatest tournament.
Brazilian Youths Ready to Step Up
Brazil is always feeding the world with elite players. Finding these while they’re young and still in the making is the sole work of thousands of scouts every year.
With the South American U20 tournament ended and with a few months left before the summer transfer window opens, some of these players we’re about to review may take the leap forward to any of the top European leagues.
Despite having a poor performance and not even qualifying for the next U20 World Cup, to be played in South Korea, some players did had a good tournament and showed their potential at the South American U20 WCQ. Don’t forget to place your accumulator bet at William Hill for the next World Cup.
Lyanco (20) had one of the most solid performances across the tournament. As a centre back, he’s tall (1,88 mts / 6.2 ft) and strong, yet he has a good technique and an interesting short pass.
He is also getting play at his team, São Paulo. This versatile defender may have his days in Brazil counted, as the team manager, the former goalkeeper and star Rogério Ceni has admitted that talks with Atlético de Madrid are almost done and he may join as soon as the transfer window starts.
Other players which left a good taste in that tournament were Felipe Vizeu (19, Flamengo) and Richarlison (19, Fluminense). Richarlison joined Fluminense after a spell in his home team América MG for a $3 million transfer fee. With 27 games and 4 goals in the last season, he’s surely one of the most interesting prospects of Brazilian football.
Although not that strong physically, with a height of only 1,79 mts (5.10 fts), he has an outstanding speed and technique, and is always looking for holes in the defence to run deep. Although his main position is as a centre forward, he can also play in the wings, making him a versatile option for any team in the offensive line.
Although rivals in the local scene, as Flamengo and Fluminense are part of one of the most fierce derbies in the world, Richarlison and Felipe Vizeu teamed together to carry the weight of the Brazilian side at the SA U20 WCQ.
Felipe Vizeu is a more traditional forward, with a strong presence in the box (1.84mts / 6.1 fts). His main advantage relies in his header technique and his finishing skills, but he has a decent technique and can pivot to support the midfielders.
A teammate of Felipe Vizeu also showed a very interesting set of skills: Lucas Paquetá (19, Flamengo), may aim to big things in the near future. He has the talent, no doubt about it. He’s a very skilful player, with a very fast pace and a very good dribbling he can make fool of almost any defence.
His main position is as an attacking midfielder, playing in the centre as a classic playmaker. But he can play in both wings if needed. He has a very offensive mind and is always trying to reach the box. He has started to see play last year in his team and now aims to establish a more stable role over the course of the year.
Expectations for the Serie A 2017
The 2016 season of the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A ended in mid-December of last year and it was Palmeiras who finished the season as champions, marking the ninth league championship triumph in their history. Among their star players were the likes of Yerry Mina, Jean and Roger Guedes, ensuring them a nine-point victory, while 2015 champions Corinthians surprisingly finished in mid-table. With the 2017 season due to kick off in May, this piece will look at what might happen this year.
Having won the title last season, and Copa do Brasil in 2015, there seems little doubt that Palmeiras will be among the main contenders for the league again this season. This marked their first league title win in 22 years and a major player for them was Gabriel Jesus, who finished the season as their top scorer with 12 league goals. The biggest factor preventing Palmeiras from building on their league and cup wins of the past couple of years is likely to be the loss of Jesus, who was sold to English club Manchester City for a fee of just over £27 million during January. Admittedly, this is a huge sum for a Brazilian team, but replacing his goals will be difficult. 2015 winners Corinthians suffered a disappointing season last time out, finishing their campaign in 7th spot. The club endured a pretty torrid time off the pitch, with successful manager Tite quitting in June to become coach of the national team and being replaced by Cristovao Borges, only for him to be sacked in September and Oswaldo de Oliveira to take over as manager. It was defeat at home to Palmeiras, a result that ended an undefeated home run of 34 matches that cost Borges his job. The club suffered a further blow in the transfer market when former Chelsea star Didier Drogba turned down a move to them, but the club has brought in new players, including striker Jo and midfielder Gabriel as it looks to rebuild for the new season. It should certainly be expected that Corinthians will be better than last year, although whether they can challenge for the title remains to be seen.
The team that finished in second spot last season was Santos, and the club has been going through a period of rebuilding and transition following the end of its 2009-13 golden era. The club’s forwards Ricardo Oliveira and Jonathan Copete did a decent job, finishing with 11 and 10 goals respectively, and both remain at the club, suggesting they could have the attacking threat to go one better this year. Finally, there is Flamengo, who finished third last year on the same number of points – 71 – as Santos. They have strengthened their attacking options with the signing of Orlando Berrio, and also added defenders Miguel Trauco and Rene and will have high hopes of claiming a 7th Serie A title. It is still a little hard to predict the winner though, with the season not having started yet, and slots game Soccer Safari which you can play on online casino might be a smarter gambling choice just now for that reason.
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Gabriel Jesus Continues to Shine for Brazil
It has been a remarkable rise to prominence for Gabriel Fernando de Jesus, with the 19-year-old making the climb from senior debut at club level to starring for the seleção within the space of just nineteen months. His progress has shown no sign of slowing down, with the teenage wonderkid not only joint-top of the scoring charts in the Brazilian Serie A with Palmeiras who currently sit top of the table, but also scoring three in as many games for Brazil. His superb finish against Bolivia illustrated the level of ability that Gabriel Jesus possesses, and if he continues to develop at domestic and international level, then the sky really is the limit for the striker. Palmeiras are rated as odds-on favourites with Coral to beat Cruzeiro in their upcoming league fixture without their star striker, but while the football odds are currently in their favour, the Alviverde will hope that their teenage sensation reports back for domestic duty injury-free and fires the club towards their first title since 1994.
Many players often crumble under the weight of pressure and expectation when they are likened to a world class player who has made a big impact in the game, but being dubbed as ‘the new Neymar’ does not appear to have fazed Gabriel Jesus. In fact, it has motivated the 19-year-old to grow and become an even better player, with Palmeiras and Brazil fans in no doubt that they have a real star in the making on their hands. The former were always realistic of their chances of keeping a player whose talent is clear for all to see, but although Gabriel Jesus is set to depart for England in January to join Manchester City for an initial fee of £27 million, Cuca will count on his star striker to make the difference in the final few months of the season.
Playing alongside the superstar whose footsteps he could follow in has taken Gabriel Jesus’ game to another level, with the teenage star forming an excellent understanding with Neymar. His unselfish assist for Brazil’s opening goal in the 5-0 rout against Bolivia is a sign of the maturity that the striker is showing at such a young age, with his superb pace, dribbling ability and creative mind making him a real nightmare for defenders to handle. All of these qualities came to the fore in a memorable debut for the seleção as Ecuador were unable to cope with a 19-year-old who was hell bent on making an instant impact; he lit up the stage at the Estadio Olimpico Atahualpa with two goals and an assist as Brazil ran out 3-0 winners, with Tite giving Gabriel Jesus the license to shine after he was part of the Under-23 side who won the gold medal at the Olympics.
It remains to be seen how Pep Guardiola utilises Gabriel Jesus upon his arrival at the Etihad Stadium, but those who have been monitoring his progress will be left in no doubt that the 19-year-old has the potential to become a real star in England. The striker has the potential to celebrate a league title with two different clubs as not only do Palmeiras find themselves three points clear of Flamengo with nine games of the Brazilian Serie A to go, but his future employers have made a blistering start to their Premier League campaign. The favourite’s odds with Coral have dropped even further after Manchester City won their first six games in a row, and although Tottenham ended their 100% start with a 2-0 win at White Hart Lane before the recent international break, the Citizens have put themselves in a strong position in the early stages.
Gabriel Jesus may find first-team opportunities hard to come by, with Sergio Aguero and Kelechi Iheanacho enjoying superb form in front of goal, but as he will become the third striker available to Guardiola, the 19-year-old may get the opportunity to shine at some stage. However, it could be argued that his progress would be further enhanced if he was allowed to go out on loan, and with the Alviverde fans taking to Gabriel Jesus as one of their own, there is a good chance that the teenage prodigy could return to Brazilian soil and continue his route to the very top of world football.
Three Brazilian Talents to Look Out For in Europe
Brazilian players come into the season riding high on a wave of optimism, after claiming their first ever football Gold medal at their own Olympics with a penalty shootout win over Germany.
This brings to an end a truly awful recent record, which featured one of the most stunning World Cup results in history, a 7-1 defeat to the Germans in the semi-final of their own competition.
Here, we take a look at some of the hottest Brazilian talents in Europe that will be eager to continue the nation’s feel good factor…
Gabriel Jesus
The 19-year-old recently completed his move to Manchester City, and will join the English club in January of 2017 for an initial fee of £27m.
Dubbed the next Neymar, he is pacey, creative and possesses immense dribbling ability to cause defenders real problems.
The Gold medallist has scored 19 goals for Palmeiras since his breakthrough into the first team, and will hope to emulate the success of Neymar by hitting the ground running for Pep Guardiola’s Sky Blues.
Coutinho
The Premier League has a great history of playing Brazilians and this year’s season is no different.
From Chelsea’s Willian to Liverpool attacker Roberto Firmino, the division is brimming with talent, but it could be Philippe Coutinho who makes the biggest impact.
The creative force recorded 12 goals and seven assists last term and started his Premier League season off with a bang, in a 4-3 over Arsenal, netting twice. For more great Premier League content be sure to read at bookies.com, featuring great articles on all things football, like Jose Mourinho’s title-chasing Manchester United.
Under Jurgen Klopp Liverpool have made great strides and should be lining up a Champions League place this term.
Neymar
The Olympic winning superstar moved to Barcelona in 2013 and has lit up Europe ever since.
Neymar has formed one of the deadliest attacking trios in world football with Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi, a combination that scored 131 goals last season.
In three years playing for the Catalan club, the skillful star has already lifted two La Liga titles and a Champions League. At just 24-years-old, Neymar will only get better and is well on the way to becoming his nation’s leading scorer, hoping to lead his nation to glory in the Russian 2018 World Cup.
So there you have it, the three super Brazilian talents to watch as the European football season hots up.
Why Philippe Coutinho WILL Move to Barcelona this Summer
After constantly impressing throughout the last 18 months, Brazil midfielder Philippe Coutinho has been linked with a move to Barcelona this summer. The Liverpool star is a unique talent and a space has opened up at Camp Nou now that Xavi has hung up his boots.
Reds supporters will be hoping that the 23-year-old chooses to remain at Anfield but it’s hard to imagine Coutinho turning down a move to the defending European champions – especially if Liverpool miss out on Champions League football this season.
Bookies.com can keep you up to date with all of the latest news, odds and offers – especially during the transfer window. In fact, punters will look to enjoy at least one of the many free bets promotions that are on their website and could use these for betting on Coutinho joining Barcelona in the coming months.
If Liverpool continue to falter, a move away from Anfield is a genuine possibility – especially if Barcelona defend their Champions League title. Just imagine Coutinho lined up behind fellow Brazilian Neymar, Luis Suarez and five-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi…
Ultimately, Coutinho is too good for what is a mediocre Liverpool side. Yes, the Reds have improved since Jurgen Klopp took over at Anfield but they are still a very average team. Without Coutinho, they have struggled to inspire confidence this season and at times, they have relied on their Brazilian maestro too often.
For Coutinho to stay, Liverpool need to do two things: firstly, they need to give him a contract extension. At the end of the day, money talks – and that may just be the incentive that he needs to continue his fine form at Anfield. Secondly, they HAVE to finish in the top four this season OR win the Europa League.
Without Champions League football, the Brazilian is out the door – and rightly so. With many of Europe’s elite clubs after him, there will be a fight for Coutinho’s signature but his style of play would suit Barcelona more than anybody else. And if you believe reports, the Camp Nou is Coutinho’s ideal landing spot too.
In a few months, we will have clarity on Coutinho’s situation. For now, many Liverpool fans seem to believe he will stay at Anfield but it’s hard to predict. In football, you never know and if Barcelona or Real Madrid come knocking, there’s no way he will turn them down. In fact, he would welcome a move with open arms – especially to La Blaugrana.
Coutinho is a world class talent and world class talents play for world class sides. Unfortunately for the Reds, that means he is likely to move on. Realistically, only a lucrative contract and Champions League football will convince the 23-year-old Brazilian to stay – and both are unlikely to occur in the near future.
Why Roberto Firmino will light up the Premier League at Liverpool
Last season, Roberto Firmino was strutting his stuff for Hoffenheim. Now, he’s competing with fellow countryman Philippe Coutinho for a starting role in the Liverpool side. A lot can change very quickly in football and for Firmino, it has. At just 23 years old, he has already played for three different clubs in three different leagues and has racked up 10 appearances for Brazil.
Firmino caught the attention of many elite clubs across the continent but it was Liverpool who got their man, paying £29 million for the privelege. However, the Brazilian is a unique talent and, if Brendan Rodgers tweaks his formation slightly to accomodate him into the side, he will flourish in the Premier League this season and for the foreseeable future.
Bring on firmino! The lad is a great talent!!! Let him impress the Anfield crowd!!
— LFC Proud Fans (@LFCProudFans) August 17, 2015
You see, the 23-year-old is an exceptional talent but still has his best days ahead of him. As Firmino gains more experience in England’s top flight, his impact and influence on football matches will increase. Firmino is yet to sparkle for Liverpool in the opening stages of the domestic campaign but did score a hat-trick against Welsh side The New Saints in a behind-closed-doors friendly match earlier this month.
The Brazilian is, as all Brazilians are, blessed with pace, trickery and audacity. Firmino is as confident as they come, and although that can work against you with supporters, self-belief allows you to attempt skills that others wouldn’t dream of trying. He will make mistakes, particularly in his early career, but you should that Firmino’s natural ability will eventually prevail and he will rank as one of the Premier League’s best attacking midfielders.
One of Firmino’s greatest attributes is his ability to perform in the big matches. He has a unique ability to raise his game for crucial games and will be chomping at the bit to make an impact against the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal. In fact, Rodgers’s men travel to Old Trafford on September 12th and Firmino will be keen to help Liverpool pick up all three points against their close rivals.
Firmino will frustrate fans at times, particularly in his early years at Anfield. Liverpool’s philosophy is built around a solid work ethic and the Brazilian will have to buy into this if he is to succeed under Brendan Rodgers. At 23 years old, he will be hungry to impress the Anfield faithful and, with that little bit extra effort in training, will play a key role alongside Coutinho in Liverpool’s attack in the future. Supporters are certainly excited to see that particular combination and will be quietly confident of a title challenge in the near future.
Can’t wait to see Coutinho and Firmino play a full 90 together.
— LFC Fans Corner (@LFCFansCorner) August 19, 2015
Brazil Opt for Ageing Kaka Over In-form Coutinho
The footballing world has been left scratching its head following the decision by Brazil head coach Dunga to select an ageing Kaka over Liverpool’s in-form attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho for the upcoming friendly matches against Costa Rica and the USA. While the former Ballon d’Or winner has fallen out of favour with Brazil’s management in recent times, making just seven appearances in the past five years, Coutinho was part of Dunga’s Copa America squad earlier this season. The door may still be open for the 23-year old but being dropped in favour of an ageing Kaka has sent a message out to Brazil fans that Dunga may still be the safety-first coach he was during his first spell in charge.
As well as the fact Kaka is currently plying his trade in America’s still-improving MLS while Coutinho has been catching the eye in the Premier League, the decision has been seen as the safe option by a Brazil team still working its way back into the nation’s affections following last year’s World Cup humiliation. In his defence, Kaka has been sensational in the MLS since his move to the states, scoring 10 goals and providing four assists for Orlando. While the level of football in America has significantly improved over the past couple of years, it’s still some way behind those leagues most of this Brazil squad play in.
During the time Kaka has been taking the modest level of defenders in the MLS to school, Coutinho has been forced to learn his trade in one of the toughest leagues in the world, especially for technical players such as the Liverpool star. Having been instrumental to Liverpool’s second place finish in the Premier League in 2013/14 and offering a bright spark throughout an otherwise troubling 2014/15 campaign for the Reds, Coutinho has gone on to enhance his reputation as one of European most exciting young players.
Having burst out of the traps this season by scoring a sensational late winner for Liverpool against Stoke, Coutinho couldn’t have done more to prove he deserved to keep his place in the Brazil squad. As it stands, though, the attacking midfielder will just need to focus on building on his early season form and make it impossible for Dunga to overlook him when it comes to naming his squad for World Cup Qualification in October against Chile and then Venezuela.
Will Brazil win the 2015 Copa America?
Brazil are one of the leading candidates to win this summer’s tournament and Dunga has selected an exceptionally strong 23-man squad for the competition. One surprise exclusion is Chelsea’s Oscar – who is coming off a year where he played a pivotal role in their Premier League championship success. However, the five-time World Cup winners will be chomping at the bit after a disappointing couple of years and will fancy their chances of earning their first continental success since 2007. We take a look at the upcoming tournament and give our thoughts on Brazil’s chances of lifting the trophy at the end of the competition. For more news and odds on this year’s Copa America, you can check out Bookies’ Twitter account and view various tweets regarding the competition.
They have an incredibly talented squad
The 23-man squad is one of the strongest international units in world football and they will stand an excellent chance of winning their ninth Copa America title. The likes of Neymar, Willian and Robinho are included in attack, while stalwart Thiago Silva, David Luiz and Marcelo are all solid inclusions in the defensive areas. Barring a major shock, Dunga’s side should reach the latter stages of the tournament and are more than capable of challenging Argentina, host nation Chile, Colombia and Uruguay for the title.
Argentina will be difficult to beat
Gerardo Martino’s side possess some of the greatest footballers on the planet, and the likes of Lionel Messi, Angel di Maria and Sergio Aguero will light up the continent with their fantastic skills next month. The 2014 World Cup finalists will be hungry to avenge their defeat and will be hoping to beat their archrivals to the crown. With the greatest player in world football in their squad, they must be ranked as one of the top candidates to win the trophy.
Verdict
Brazil are more than capable of winning this year’s tournament and Dunga’s squad possesses match winners all over the field. The experienced Thiago Silva and David Luiz should be able to build from the back while remaining solid defensively, and their full backs will relish the opportunity to attack down the wings. Meanwhile, Barcelona’s star Neymar has been formidable this season, playing a key role in La Blaugrana’s epic success throughout the campaign. If he plays well as the focal point of Brazil’s attack, they will stand a great chance of lifting the trophy and Neymar could even finish the tournament as top goal scorer.
Dunga shake-up gives Turkey chance
Brazil take on Turkey in Istanbul in a highly anticipated clash this week, with new Selecao boss Dunga set to shake up his starting eleven.
After a promising but ultimately devastating World Cup at home in the summer, the Brazilian national team find themselves in a period of reinvention.
Plenty of the old guard have been removed, with Dunga keen to forget about the Germany debacle experienced by his predecessor Luiz Felipe Scolari.
As the Brazil boss is unable to choose home-based players due to the national championship clashing with these friendly fixtures it seems that changes will abound in Turkey’s second city.
Fatih Terim’s current reign as Turkish manager has begun promisingly according to a number of the players and the feeling is high that Brazil could find themselves on the end of a minor upset.
“Even if the result is not important, the football we play and the performance we put on are critical,” said Bursaspor winger Volkan Şen, who has only recently been called back to the team.
“It will be a wonderful encounter ahead of the European Championship qualifiers match against Kazakhstan. We want to see our shortcomings, errors and strengths and get a good result against Kazakhstan,” he added.
Terim will be hoping that he and his side can catch Brazil cold and with the energy available to him, that is a possibility.
With Galatasaray trio Umut Bulut, Burak Yilmaz and Hamit Altintop all itching to play against the Brazilians, it is this type of outfit that Dunga and his defence will see as a true test, after obvious problems earlier in the year. Terim can also call on the quality of Atletico Madrid talisman Arda Turan as he enjoys yet another fine season in Spain so far.
Dunga will be wary of such quality but the World Cup-winning midfielder will be expecting his team to have more than enough to deal with the Turkish threat.
Even with a new defence, of which Napoli goalkeeper Rafael Cabral looks set to stake his claim in Istanbul, the Brazil manager will be confident of dealing with the attacking menace of this exciting Turkish team as they search for World Cup redemption.