Brazil largely beat Tunisia (5-1) on Tuesday evening in a friendly match.
La Seleçao de Tite made a strong impression, with a solid collective and still strong individualities, like Neymar.
Two months before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Brazilians know where they are going and they are shaping up to be one of the big favorites in the competition.
At the Parc des Princes,
Brazil is doing well, thank you for him.
Two months before the World Cup, the Seleçao put on a show and further gained confidence in their last two friendly matches, against Ghana and Tunisia.
Opponents who are not quite boxing in his category, of course, but that never prevented bad surprises.
Not that this Tuesday, with a clear victory (5-1), radiant individuals and, above all, a collective foundation that has not always seemed so solid.
It was necessary to get the upper hand over Tunisia because, from Neymar's own mouth, "it was not a friendly match, it was already the World Cup, with a huge commitment from the opponents".
The atmosphere was indeed Tunisian and for once, the Brazilian star played outside at the Park.
Galvanized as much as overwhelmed, the Tunisians played hard, and ended up paying it with the expulsion of Bronn for a legal mowing of number 10 do Brazil.
But this numerical superiority does not explain the score.
It was already 4-1 at that time, after a first period of fire.
By organizing his team in 4-3-3 but with Neymar among the three midfielders, in the position of torchbearer-playmaker, coach Tite seems to have found the formula to exploit an unparalleled attacking potential (if not perhaps being the Blues when everyone is there).
Former Rennais Raphinha, now at Barça, scored points with a magnificent double, while Richarlison shows match after match that he has the shoulders to occupy the axis.
Paqueta started on the right side, but it could have been Vinicius, on the bench at kick-off, like Antony, Firmino or Rodrygo.
And it was the new find Pedro, one of the few players to play in the country (Flamengo), who scored the fifth goal of the evening.
Fortunately, Gabriel Jesus, who is starting to crash this season at Arsenal, is for the moment shunned by Tite.
With a Casemiro in Real mode in the middle, an aging Thiago Silva-Marquinhos hinge but who knows himself by heart and an always reliable Alisson in goal, the whole thing has a hell of a face.
"We were solid, we did our job well," said captain Thiago Silva, who proved in the mixed zone after the match that he had lost none of his French.
We took counterattacks a few times, normally we don't leave this possibility.
The score was already acquired, but you have to get it in your head that it shouldn't be like that.
Anyway, I think we're on the right track.
»
Neymar "the magician"
The Tunisians were amazed at times, like Skhiri, impressed by the "efficiency" of his opponents and their "ease of exploiting flaws".
“We played against one of the best teams in the world”, sums up the former Montpellier midfielder, in tune with his coach Jalel Kadri.
Brazil, who have lost just twice in the last three years – against Argentina – and won 24 of their last 29 games, are heading to Qatar with certainty.
And in particular that of a completely fulfilled Neymar.
Author of his 75th goal on Tuesday, he is only two lengths behind King Pelé.
Above all, he is the centerpiece of Tite, the one through whom everything passes, and when he is in good shape like at the start of the season, it necessarily sublimates a team.
Thiago Silva at the microphone:
He's amazing, he's a magician.
In the past years he had serious injuries, which prevented him from finishing the seasons well.
This year it's different, he prepared well during the holidays, I was with him in Brazil and I saw him.
I hope he will continue with this mentality, good health, to arrive very well at the World Cup.
»
They are about 212 million to hope for the same thing in the country, because if it maintains this level, the Seleçao can certainly arise as the number 1 favorite of the World Cup.
The person concerned was in any case all smiles in the evening, remaining a good twenty minutes in a mixed zone which he usually crosses in a gust of wind.
After complaining about the treatment inflicted by the Tunisians on his ankles, we can't get over it, the Ney showed all the confidence he had in this team.
“The more quality players we have, the better, he appreciates.
We have young people who are already experienced because they play in the best leagues, they know what it means to play for the Seleçao.
They have strong leather.
See you in two months for the trial by fire.
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Soccer
Brazil
Neymar
World Cup 2022
Tunisia