World Cup 2022: Brazil's 'fast little legs' chasing glory in Qatar

Barcelona's Raphinha, 25, is among a caller procreation of breathtaking Brazil talent

Brazil's coaching unit were having a laughter earlier grooming erstwhile Neymar stopped by them and joked with manager Tite. "This clump of kids that are coming," helium smiled. "It's conscionable nuts. They're going to springiness you a headache."

And helium was not incorrect - the emergence of Raphinha, Vinicius Jr, Gabriel Martinelli, Antony and Rodrygo has wholly changed the mode the Selecao play and forced the 61-year-old to see each of them successful his World Cup squad.

They person helped crook a pragmatic broadside lacking flair and grace, who couldn't triumph the fans over, into 1 to person galore successful the state - arguably for the archetypal clip since 2006 - believing that winning the trophy for the sixth clip is not lone possible, but highly likely.

The Brazilians person rediscovered their attacking DNA. When successful possession, they usually usage a 2-3-5 enactment that relies heavy connected the wingers, not connected the overlapping full-backs similar successful the past. However, that does not mean the defence is near excessively exposed - Alisson, Thiago Silva and co conceded lone 19 goals successful the 50 games earlier Qatar and person often looked impenetrable.

For astir of the four-year rhythm determination was a feeling this broadside had not been decently tested, though. They had not taken connected European absorption since a March 2019 affable gathering with the Czech Republic, contempt respective attempts to put matches against the likes of England and Spain. It was the longest they had gone without facing a rival from Europe since the 1954 World Cup.

But present astatine the World Cup this is not a interest immoderate more. It was Europe's loss. The Selecao are ready, having qualified apical of their radical and with prima antheral Neymar acceptable and disposable again for Monday's second-round lucifer against South Korea.

"Brazil are overmuch much prepared present than they were successful 2018 and 2014. Among different things, the 'perninhas rapidas' person taken immoderate of the unit disconnected Neymar's shoulders," erstwhile planetary Grafite, who is moving arsenic a pundit, tells BBC Sport.

"Obviously, if we are to triumph successful Qatar, we volition request Neymar astatine his best, but we don't beryllium solely connected him immoderate longer. Unlike successful the past, we person large extent successful each areas.

"Neymar is not unsocial successful this team. If helium passes to his close side, helium volition find Raphinha, for example, a lad who is precise unsafe successful one-on-one situations, tin dribble and chopped inside. It doesn't substance wherever you look - defence, midfield and onslaught - the endowment is everywhere."

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Caracas turning point

Manchester United's Antony scored Brazil's 3rd extremity arsenic they completed a 3-1 comeback triumph implicit Venezuela successful October 2021

Except for a location decision to Argentina successful the 2021 Copa America final, Brazil hardly experienced immoderate turbulence connected the roadworthy to Qatar. But contempt the affirmative results, the five-time satellite champions initially struggled to person connected the transportation and get the fans connected board.

That each changed aft the 2nd fractional of the 3-1 distant triumph against Venezuela successful October 2021.

The Selecao were losing 1-0 astatine half-time erstwhile Tite decided to present Raphinha and manus him his planetary debut. The young winger, past of Leeds United, had a nighttime to remember, mounting up 2 goals and earning the punishment for the different one. Vini Jr and Antony were besides fixed minutes and impressed successful Caracas.

The pursuing week Raphinha was successful the starting XI, going connected to enactment connected a amusement successful the 4-1 triumph implicit Uruguay, perchance the champion show from the Brazilians since Russia 2018.

From that infinitesimal on, determination was nary mode back.

"I judge that the main publication from Raphinha and these different young players truthful acold has been the joyousness that they person brought backmost to the team," says Grafite.

"We volition not ever beryllium capable to onslaught the different sides arsenic we did successful qualifiers, that's clear, but I find it important that we tin spot our accepted violative benignant erstwhile again determination and place with it."

It's the 'perninhas rapidas' clip to shine

Brazil ended a 24-year hold for a World Cup triumph successful 1994 earlier winning their 5th rubric 8 years aboriginal successful 2002

Of the 14 players utilized successful the 2-1 defeat by Belgium that sent Brazil location successful the quarter-finals of the past World Cup, lone 4 of them stay successful the squad - Alisson, Thiago Silva, Neymar and Jesus, who is present injured. Veteran footballers similar Fernandinho, Marcelo and Filipe Luis were dropped on the way.

It's a antithetic squad successful Qatar, but the unit is adjacent greater than successful 2018.

If Brazil don't triumph the tourney this winter, they volition astatine slightest adjacent the country's longest ever tally without lifting the World Cup trophy - the 24 years betwixt 1970 and 1994.

None of the 'perninhas rapidas' were calved erstwhile Romario inspired the South Americans to the rubric successful the United States, but present it volition beryllium up to them to debar the unwanted grounds and instrumentality location arsenic champions.

"Brazil couldn't person got to Qatar successful a amended form, but everything happens truthful accelerated successful the World Cup, truthful that's nary warrant of success," Grafite continues.

"We person teams similar England, France and Argentina who tin triumph it, too. We volition person to hold and see."

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