The ideal Brazil XI not selected for the World Cup
The Seleção is set for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. This Monday, Tite announced his list with the players that will have the difficult task of representing the five-time world champions in Qatar in two weeks.
By the end of the Brazilian coach’s press conference, 26 players and their families had one of the most beautiful moments of their lives. On the other hand, many other Brazilian footballers saw their dream of representing their country in football’s most popular tournament slip away and will have to wait until 2026 for their next opportunity.
Undeniably, Brazil has a gifted generation of players, many of whom were left behind by Tite. Plenty of other nations would happily snap up some of the players not selected to don the green and yellow this year. So let’s run through the Brazilian starting XI of players not called upon for the upcoming World Cup.
GK: Santos – Flamengo
If Tite could bring four goalkeepers to the World Cup, Santos would definitely be the fourth name selected. The 32-year-old goalkeeper was a key factor in Flamengo’s squad during the club’s victorious runs in Copa Libertadores and Copa do Brasil this season, and also brought home an Olympic gold medal after winning the football tournament in Tokyo last year. Besides his saves and agility, the goalkeeper is also capable of using his feet to start plays, a skill well appreciated by Tite.
RB: Emerson Royal – Tottenham
Emerson Royal is one of the players that months ago would definitely have been part of the 26 players going to Qatar. This sentiment grew even stronger after Daniel Alves’ weak season with FC Barcelona and Pumas. However, a red card against Ecuador in the beginning of this year completely changed his destiny with the Seleção and made the youngster lose his spot on Tite’s squad.
Now, even though the right back seems to be on the right track with the Spurs, it looks like the Brazilian coach hasn’t forgotten his slip up and Royal will have to wait until 2026 to fulfill his dream of playing in a world tournament.
CB: Lucas Veríssimo – Benfica
If a red card changed Emerson Royal’s destiny with the Seleção, an injury was responsible for Lucas Veríssimo’s absence. After the 2021 Copa America, the 27-year-old was a regular name on Tite’s list and he seemed to be established as one of the four defenders on the Brazilian squad.
However, in November 2021, the center-back suffered a torn ligament in his knee and spent most of the 2021/2022 season on the sidelines. A few weeks ago, the defender returned to the field after several months away. But, it looks like his three games this season weren’t enough for Tite, who decided to select Bremer for the tournament instead.
CB: Gabriel Magalhães – Arsenal
It could have been three, but just two of the three `Gabriels` in North London are heading to the World Cup. The 24-year-old center-back has been called-up to wear the traditional yellow jersey on four occasions, but it seems that he hasn’t performed the way the Tite wanted during the team’s practices.
Magalhães has proven his talent and fortitude this season alongside his defensive partner William Saliba, as the duo’s effectiveness can be considered one of the reasons why the North London club has been successful so far. If he continues along his current trajectory, he can definitely secure a spot for 2026.
LB: Renan Lodi – Nottingham Forest
Just like the right-back of this team, a mistake cost the dream of Renan Lodi. Even though he tried, the 24-year-old left-back couldn’t stop the through ball from Rodrigo de Paul to Di Maria, who scored the goal that gave Argentina the Copa America tournament in 2021.
Lodi has never been the same since this error. The left-back, who used to be a starter in the Seleção, lost his space on the national team and also sat on Atletico Madrid’s bench until his departure to Nottingham Forest. Now, the footballer has had good performances with the two-time Champions League victors this season, but it wasn’t enough for a plane ticket to Qatar.
CM: Douglas Luiz – Aston Villa
Over the past few years, it seemed as though Douglas Luiz would form Brazil’s midfield alongside Casemiro in Qatar. The midfielder was able to showcase his qualities with the Seleção and he was definitely one of the best players of Brazil’s squad during the country’s victorious run in Tokyo last year.
Casemiro, Fabinho and Fred are three names that Tite would never leave behind on his list, so Luiz would have to fight for the fourth spot in the midfield area. Due to the growth of an outstanding Bruno Guimarães, it seemed to be almost impossible to select Aston Villa’s footballer and leave Guimarães off the plane heading to the Middle East.
CM: João Gomes – Flamengo
João Gomes is a name that the world of football will get to know very soon. The 21-year-old simply dominated the midfield of Flamengo this season and, just like the goalkeeper Santos, has been one of the key players of the Rubro-Negro’s squad in 2022.
Due to his excellent performances on the field, Gomes attracted the attention of the Champions League winners Real Madrid, who have been monitoring the Brazilian midfielder alongside with Manchester United and Liverpool, according to the newspaper AS.
CAM: Gustavo Scarpa – Palmeiras
The Premier League will meet a new talent soon. After another successful year with Palmeiras, Gustavo Scarpa is joining Nottingham Forest this January to help the team with its relegation battle. The 28-year-old midfielder has had magical moments wearing the Verdão jersey in 2022 and led the team to its eleventh Brazilian Championship title.
In 56 matches this season, the attacking midfielder scored 12 goals and provided 17 assists to his teammates. In addition to the championship title, the midfielder is the strongest candidate to win the trophy of the best attacking midfielder of the tournament.
RW: Gabriel Barbosa – Flamengo
Gabriel Barbosa’s absence from Tite’s list has been a hot topic in Brazil since the coach announced his World Cup squad, as many journalists and fans have been asking how one of the most lethal strikers on the continent could be left off the tournament list.
Undeniably, `Gabigol` is the best striker in Brazil right now alongside Pedro. The 26-year-old has been merciless against his opponents wearing Flamengo’s jersey this year and added three more titles to his club’s trophy cabinet. In the 2022 Copa Libertadores, Barbosa scored 6 goals and gave three assists across 12 matches.
LW: David Neres – Benfica
Similar to Douglas Luiz, if we take a look at the beginning of Brazil’s World Cup cycle to Qatar, many assumed that David Neres would be a name featuring on the 26-players list announced by Tite.
However, due to a variety of injuries, the winger failed to secure his place on the national team squad and saw other players like Antony and Rodrygo fill the gaps on the wings. But, this season, Neres seems to have found his peace in Lisbon with great performances. So far, the winger has six goals and eight assists, in 18 games.
CF: Roberto Firmino – Liverpool
For the past few months, the possibility of Firmino being called for the upcoming World Cup was completely out of question because of his poor 2021/2022 season with Liverpool. However, Bobby caused coaches and journalists alike to reconsider their stance recently as the striker has had an incredible run with the Reds.
Despite his difficult beginning to the season with Liverpool, the 31-year-old is having himself a tremendous campaign with eight goals and four assists, in 19 matches.
-Matheus Teles
Photo: Copa2014.gov.br. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.