The team’s start towards the World Cup has winners and losers – 09/14/2023 – The World Is a Ball

The first two games of the Brazilian team in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the calling card of interim coach Fernando Diniz, served to show who started well and who started badly, among the athletes, on the way towards the competition, which will be in the USA , in Canada and Mexico.

One of the victors, after the victories at home against Bolivia (5-1, easy) and away against Peru (1-0, difficult, with a goal only at the end of the second half), is goalkeeper Ederson.

The European champion with Manchester City, who created a reputation for knowing how to play well with his feet, played in both matches, leaving Alisson, from Liverpool, Brazil’s starter in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in reserve, who, in a personal setback, , lost the position.

In the defensive sector, defender Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), who was tipped to go to the World Cup in Qatar but ended up passed over by Tite, and left-back Renan Lodi (Olympique de Marseille) are the big winners.

Magalhães, despite having caught a ball behind his back that resulted in Bolivia’s only goal, started in both games, both in Belém and Lima, relegating competitors Ibañez and Nino to reserve, even though the latter was Diniz’s trusted man. , who trains him at Fluminense.

The same happened with Lodi, who lost space in the team since the 2021 Copa América final, when he missed Di María’s goal that gave Argentina the title in the middle of Maracanã.

The team’s previous interim coach, Ramon Menezes, had played on the left flank in friendlies with Alex Telles or Ayrton Lucas, who were not called up by Diniz. Back, Lodi left his current rival in the position, Caio Henrique, on the bench in both matches.

In attack, Raphinha must have returned to Spain, where he plays for Barcelona, ​​with a big smile. His victory was threefold.

Firstly, because he hadn’t even been originally called up to face the Bolivians and Peruvians. He counted on Vinicius Junior’s injury to be remembered by Diniz.

Secondly because, even though he was part of the group, he certainly wouldn’t start playing, since in his position, right wing striker, Antony was the likely choice. But the Manchester United player was cut due to accusations of violence against an ex-girlfriend.

Thirdly because, once the path was open, Raphinha took advantage, scoring a goal and providing an assist against the Bolivians, which gave him credit for continuing to be a starter in the next game, in which he played for 85 minutes.

Based on their performances, the team that stood out will certainly be in the next squad – Brazil will play again in October against Venezuela and Uruguay –, and Ederson, Magalhães and Lodi are very likely to continue among the 11 that start playing.

Of these three, the only one in the current scenario who is at risk of losing space in the medium term is the defender, when Éder Militão, who had a serious injury, returns to play, since the other starting key for the team, Marquinhos, is undisputed.

In relation to Raphinha, Vini Jr. should return to the pitch in the coming weeks and the tendency is for Diniz to not only call him up but also select him, occupying one of the three positions in the attack.

Rodrygo would go to the right (he played on the left against Bolivia and Peru), with Vini Jr. on the left flank and Richarlison centrally.

Raphinha, however, could benefit due to the terrible phase of Richarlison, who is doing poorly at his club (Tottenham) and was unable to find the net in the qualifiers.

In fact, he even managed it in Lima, but the goal was disallowed by the VAR (video assistant referee) due to a millimeter offside.

In this case, with Richarlison out, Diniz can place Rodrygo as a center forward and keep Raphinha in the team.

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