The Selecao begin their Rio 2016 campaign on Thursday against South Africa as clear favourites to claim what would be the country's first ever gold in football
The big day has finally arrived. After two weeks of preparation and a friendly against Japan to fine tune the side, the Selecao will kick-off their campaign Thursday against South Africa.
The one title for which they are eligible but yet to win, the quest Olympic gold medal as become an obsession for the five-time world champions.
Coach Rogerioi Micale has had a fortnight to knit his side together and has made no secrets of his plans, confirming his starting eleven this week with Barcelona’s Rafinha set to drop our for Renato Augusto as the only change to the team that beat Japan 2-0 on Saturday.
Further forward, Micale will unleash the so-called ‘golden trio’ of Barcelona star Neymar, new Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus and Santos starlet Gabriel ‘Gabigol’ Barbosa. Together, they are already being labelled the future of Brazilian football.
Expectations are high with a local public desperate to see the Selecao make up for the disappointment of World Cup 2014 which ended with a shock 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany. 200 million are primed to see Neymar and co. grab that elusive gold medal in Rio.
The pressure not to miss out on a second chance to claim a major title on home soil inside two years was palpable even ahead of the squad being finalised.
The dismissal of former coach Dunga in June saw Micale thrown in at the deep end and he has already won over players, journalists and fans alike with his contemporary, expansive style which has looked worlds apart from the drab, defensive football Selecao fans have seen since the World Cup.
Speaking this week ahead of the big kick-off, Micale stressed that he and his player were well aware of the expectations on them this month and promised to ensure they will prove worthy of their favourites tag.
"We have to take advantage of all the time we had on the training field establishing our style and approach,” he said.
“Football is now very dynamic, there is always an opponent wanting to counter your style of play, we have to be ready to answer that question. We have very good players, we have a possible world's best (Neymar) playing with us, and our challenge will be to play as a team.”
South Africa are being tipped as Brazil’s strongest opponents in Group A, which will also see them face Iraq and Denmark.
Physical and full of pace, Brazil will have to manage the anxiety of a debut in front of a home crowd and ensure they do not become overwhelmed by the emotion of the occasion, which has since been cited as the biggest cause of the senior team’s collapse at the World Cup.
But there can be no accusations of under-preparation. Micale has been worked meticulously to cement his style and familiarise the players with the tactical demands that will be placed on them at the game, even sending players training schedules via whatsapp messages each evening before the sessions.
Felipe Anderson has been overshadowed by the ‘Golden Trio’ in the run-up to the tournament but his ability to link the midfield to the forwards will be key. And the Lazio star has spoken glowingly of his new coach.
"One of his methods that really strikes me is the communication,” he said.
“We spend as much time on the theory as anything else. Understanding what we are working towards in training is very important and he has explained that to everyone, regardless of who will actually play.”
Brazil’s recent struggles have been put down to an over-reliance on Neymar, with both Dunga and World Cup coach Luiz Felipe Scolari having proved unable to find a solution in attack when the Barca star either wasn’t performing or wasn’t present.
But Micale says he intends to rely on Ney, and has been impressed by his captain’s commitment and character since their meeting last month.
“I want to be dependent on Neymar,” he said. “What coach in the world would not want a Neymar in their team? Neymar has exceeded my expectations. He is appreciated, he’s a good guy with a huge heart especially around the younger players.
“He has shown that he is more than just a great player, he’s a great man admired by everybody.”
Micale has also worked tirelessly on a plan b, having implemented a 4-2-4 system for matches against defensive opponents who Brazil could find difficult to break down.
That tactical tweak would see the introduction of Gremio’s Luan, another who is attracting major interest from Europe and one of many being tipped as the future of the Selecao. The Rio Olympics will provide a glimpse at what lies ahead, with a number of Micale’s preferred XI expected to lead the senior team in the years ahead.
The gold medal is the only thing missing from Brazil’s remarkable trophy cabinet. Never have they had a better opportunity to complete the set. Their time is now.
Expected starting XI vs South Africa: Weverton, Zeca, Marquinhos, Rodrigo Caio, Douglas Santos; Thiago Maia, Renato Augusto, Felipe Anderson; Gabigol, Gabriel Jesus and Neymar.
..... - Goal