MY ACCOUNT
Brazil coach Tite declared “it’s time to be champions” as the Selecao eye World Cup success in Qatar.
Tite’s side coasted through South American World Cup qualifying, going unbeaten as they booked a place at this year’s showpiece tournament.
Brazil have not won the World Cup since 2002, their fifth triumph overall, and will first have to contend with Serbia on November 24 before clashes against Switzerland and Cameroon follow in Group G.
Argentina are another force in the battle for the trophy, with the Copa America champions undefeated in 33 games – the longest intact unbeaten run in international football.
Holders France will also prove stern competition, while England, Belgium, Spain and Germany are among the favourites for success.
But Tite insists it is time for Brazil, who have overtaken Belgium at the top of the world rankings, to deliver.
“I’m expectant but focused. We reached the World Cup; now it’s time to reach the final and be champions. This is the truth,” he told The Guardian.
“At the last World Cup I was the manager because of other circumstances [Dunga was fired in 2016 and Tite took over].
“Now I have had the opportunity to do the full four-year cycle. Expectations are high but the focus is on work. The pressure we face is a problem: the responsibility, the pressure of the position, the demands.
“When I was a supporter, I wanted the team to be the best. It’s what moves us. But mental health is important. I think about what [Nelson] Mandela said: ‘Courage is the ability to face fear’.
“In every decision he made, fear was present. When I read that, I saw that I am a normal citizen. I have my fears, my nightmares, my little goosebumps. Fear but not dread; fear and dread are different.”
Vinicius Junior has come to the forefront for Real Madrid in the 2021-22 campaign, but Tite believes Neymar remains the main star for Brazil.
“Neymar is Neymar. He remains our biggest star. The difference now is that the glow is diluted by nearby stars that can also shine,” he added.
“Neymar’s greatness is that he understands this – about the growth of these kids. He encourages the boys to go up a level. Time and experience provide this maturity.
“Because of Neymar’s greatness, there will always be great expectations. But now it’s diluted. It’s Neymar, but also Vinícius, Raphinha; Thiago [Silva] is at a high level again, Paqueta, Casemiro, Fabinho too.”
Tite has come into criticism during his spell as Brazil boss, particularly after a quarter-final exit at the 2018 World Cup, but he believes the questioning of his methods is unfair.
“We need time to understand. Works are best seen when they are at a distance, finished. We have results,” Tite said.
“What people are expecting? We beat the record [for the most points] in the qualifiers. We have the longest unbeaten streak, 12 games [under Tite in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup] and now 17 games without a loss [in the 2022 qualifiers]. That is 29 games.”
