November 8 – Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino will not play at the World Cup after Brazil coach Tite picked Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli over him. The 39-year-old Daniel Alves was also included among the 26 players who will go in search of a sixth world title for Brazil in Qatar.
With just 13 days left until the World Cup kick-off, Brazil coach Tite named the 26 players who will represent the five-time world champions and top favourites at the World Cup. Up front, Tite always had a problem but while Firmino was included in the squad for September friendlies against Tunisia and Ghana, he did not make the final list.
Explaining his decision to go with Martinelli, Tite said: “He has been one of Arsenal’s standouts in the Premier League, a player of individual actions, of speed in transition. He had two call-ups and maintained a high level. These are choices.”
Alves could become the oldest Brazilian to play at a World Cup. In 1966, Djalma Santos featured at the World Cup in England aged 37. Tite will value his experience in Qatar and made the point that with so many out-and-out wingers, Brazil don’t need Alves to bomb up and down the wing. Instead, he will be used for “constructive” qualities.
A reserve full-back, Alves’ selection is perhaps a controversial inclusion, which also signals the peace and quiet in the Brazil camp. Asked if Brazil were the favourites, Tite downplayed his team’s chances in Qatar.
“Three or four teams are always picked. The tournament has specific characteristics, especially in the knockout phase, the margin of error is small. Perhaps even more so than in the Copa do Brasil, with home-and-away matches. The World Cup is just one game in the knockout rounds. But we accept that Brazil, yes, is one of the favourites,” he said.
Brazil will stage a five-day training camp in Turin, Italy, before flying to Doha where they will face Serbia, Switzerland, and Cameroon in Group G. Four years ago, the South Americans were eliminated by Belgium in the quarter-finals, a team they could meet again at the same stage.
Brazil’s World Cup squad:
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Man. City), Weverton (Palmeiras).
Defenders: Bremer (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid) Marquinhos (PSG), Thiago Silva (Chelsea), Danilo (Juventus), Daniel Alves (Pumas), Alex Sandro (Juventus), Alex Telles (Sevilla).
Midfielders: Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle), Casemiro (Man. United), Everton Ribeiro (Flamengo), Fabinho (Liverpool), Fred (Man. United), Lucas Paqueta (West Ham).
Forwards: Antony (Man. United), Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Neymar Jr (PSG), Pedro (Flamengo), Raphinha (Barcelona), Richarlison (Tottenham), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)
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