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Adenor Leonardo "Tite" Bacchi might not be a name as widely known as Pep Guardiola or most European managers. But have no doubts that under Tite’s guidance Brazil has all of the tools to turn a struggling national team back into the powerhouse it used to be.
If his first match ahead of the squad proved anything, it was that the talent has always been at Brazil’s disposal. All they needed was someone to pick the right pieces and make them tick.
His first challenge at the helm for Brazil was by no means an easy game. The last time Ecuador lost a World Cup qualifier at home was back on October 10, 2009.
The first surprise Tite provided us with was his roster. The biggest shock on the list was the return of Paulinho to the national fold. Remember him? The defensive midfielder who failed to impress at Tottenham not too long ago? Yeah, him. Now playing for Guangzhou Evergrande in the Chinese league, Paulinho got a vote of confidence from his former Corinthians boss and even earned a starting spot against Ecuador.
He didn’t score, but he played a key role in Tite’s fluid tactical scheme, going from box-to-box and aiding both the offense and the defense.
Speaking of Tite’s tactical plan; it was a difference the dullest of soccer fans would be able to spot if we were to compare the Ecuador match with any of the Brazilian showings under Dunga.
Dunga’s team had a “give Neymar the ball and hope he does something” feel to it. If anything, Neymar played a solid role playmaking, but there was no need for any brilliant plays from him to decide the game Thursday. He did score on a penalty kick and dish out an assist, but the key performers Thursday were guys who did not get many chances during the Dunga days. Like these three:
Gabriel Jesus
Any Manchester City fans asking themselves if Pep Guardiola did the right thing by signing this 19-year-old need to look no further than the game tape from Thursday.
Not that there was much need for saving, but Jesus did save the day. Two beautiful goals and a penalty suffered, could he have asked for a better debut?
Marcelo
I’m still wondering how Dunga could even fathom fielding a team without the best left-back in the world when you have him at your disposal. Nothing against Filipe Luis, but in terms of skill and soccer IQ the difference between Marcelo and him is not even funny.
Needless to say, Marcelo proved Tite right in his decision to give him his starting spot back. His combo plays with Neymar down the left-flank disrupted the Equatorian defense through most of the match and Marcelo also participated in both of Gabriel Jesus’s goals. In the first goal he got the assist and on the second he delivered a beautiful through ball for Neymar to set-up Jesus’s second score.
Philippe Coutinho
His name won’t show up on the scoring charts, but Coutinho was who changed the game and gave Brazil the chance to score in the second half.
He was subbed in after yet another poor display by Chelsea’s Willian. Coutinho’s presence on the right flank and his constant movement off-the-ball opened more space for Neymar, Marcelo, and Jesus to operate on the left.
Coutinho even had a pair of excellent chances to score a goal of his own but didn’t quite hit the right spot.
They have the skill, and now they have a real coach. The question for Brazil going ahead is: Can they remain consistent?
