Brazil, the world’s most successful soccer nation, hit rock bottom at the 2014 World Cup with a 7-1 loss to Germany. Its revival has been impressive and has also been on view at the U-17 WorldCup.
It wasn’t just the embarrassingdefeat against the Germans in Belo Horizante that was so discouraging about the Brazil’s play at the World Cup on its home soil. You’ll remember the Brazilians were lucky to beat Chile,with a PK shootout, in the round of 16, and that its approach was more destructive than jogo bonito against the Chileans, Colombia and Mexico, whose Javier Hernandez was the victim ofbone-crunching tackles when he came off the bench in the scoreless tie.
Two years after the World Cup, in the summer of 2016, Brazil hosted the Olympics and celebrated a gold medal in themen’s soccer tournament, a U-23 competition with three wild-card players per team — one of which, Neymar, scored on a free kick and buried his spot kick in the gold-medal gamevictory over Germany.
The meant that Brazil has now won every men’s world championship: World Cup, Olympics, U-20 World Cup, U-17 World Cup, Futsal World Cup.
But that samesummer, at the 2016 Copa America Centenario in the USA, Brazil exited in the group stage, tying Honduras and losing to Peru.
Defensive-minded coach Dunga was fired andreplaced by Tite, a longtime club coach most famous for his stint with Corinthians that included a Copa Libertadores and FIFA Club World Cup title.
With Tite at the helm,Brazil became the first team to win nine straight South American World Cup qualifiers. The Seleção clinched a spot at the 2018 World Cup four games to spare, becoming the first teambesides host Russia to qualify.
Brazil finished the 10-team, 18-game qualifying competition in first place, with the most goals scored (41 for an average of 2.28 per game), fewest goalsconceded (11) and fewest yellow cards.
“Tite arrived and made adjustments,” said Neymar. “The players are not really different — it’s the way of playing.”
A way ofplaying that looks more like the Brazil fans enjoy watching and its players delight in playing. That has also been on view at the U-17 World Cup, where the young Brazilians have reached the semifinalswith five straight wins
2017 U-17 WORLD CUP
Brazil 2 Spain 1 highlights
Brazil 2 North Korea 0 highlights
Brazil 2 Niger 0
Brazil 3 Honduras 0 highlights
Brazil 2 Germany 1 highlights
Semifinals
Wednesday, Oct. 25
Brazil-England 7:30 a.m. ET | FS2, Telemundo
Mali-Spain 10:30 a.m. ET | FS2, Telemundo
The Brazilians facea formidable England that has reached the U-17 World Cup semifinals the first time, having beaten the USA, 4-1, in the quarterfinals. Brazil has won three U-17 World Cups, second to Nigeria’s five,but last lifted the trophy in 2003.
Making this tournament for teens especially intriguing is all four of the semifinalists have been playing some sparkling soccer. The Wednesday morning gamesshould be well worth watching.
Watched Brazil defeat Germany in the U17. The biggest difference is that Brazilian players know when and where to excelerate, and open up spaces for teammates.
IW, just saw a few minutes of the second half of Brazil-England…..NOT IMPRESSED with Brazil.
Will watch the whole game later
Brazil got their just desserts against England, after that foul against the German player in the lead-up to their second goal. The Brazilian coach went on about how his players aren’t dirty but we know better: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_2YqLJX6hk