Brazil Rely on Jesus and Team Spirit to Win FIFA World Cup in Russia
Gabriel Jesus was the top scorer for Brazil football team in the CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup qualifiers, scoring seven in 10 outings (pic credit: IANS).
Gabriel Jesus has been in ominous form in the last one year -- for the Brazilian football team and his club, Manchester City, the Premier League champions.
At 21, Jesus is the youngest member in the Selecao and when coach Tite confirmed he will be in the starting XI for Brazil at the FIFA World cup, predictions, that he could end up as the top scorer in Russia, have been rife.
“About being the top goalscorer, there are so many players [in the fray]. I can't say what other players are thinking about, of course, but I'm focused on helping the team however I can,” said the striker who scored 17 goals for Man City across competitions in the 2017-18 season. “Whether that be with goals, or assists, or tackles. Our focus is to play for the group and I believe that if the group plays well, individuals will show up.”
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Coach Tite has picked Jesus over Roberto Firmino, who has been in devastating form for Liverpool, scoring 27 goals and garnering 14 assists in the 2017-18 season, as his club reached the UEFA Champions League final.
The decision has given hints to Brazil’s opponents on how the five-time world champions would play this edition. Tite has picked Jesus, an out and out striker as his first option for the free-flowing possession-centric style he is going to employ in Russia. Firmino, a counter attacking, high pressing, no doubt hard-working player, is probably not the best fit in this set-up.
That puts added pressure on Jesus to deliver but the young striker is relaxed for he is in pretty August company up front.
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Jesus, Neymar, Philippe Coutinho, and Willian together accounted for 33 of Brazil's 47 goals during qualifying and that should unsettle any defensive line in Russia.
“Even before we had these options given by Tite [playing Neymar, Philippe Coutinho and Willian up front] I have always been relaxed. I'm very active with or without the ball,” Jesus said during a press interaction. “Not just because of a formation, but because of everybody on the field.”The four are already being compared to the the fab fours of Brazilian footballing history, including the Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo and Kaka combine of the 2002 World Cup-winning side.
Jesus insisted he wants his name to be mentioned in the same breath as the great players of the past and the only way to ensure that is by helping Brazil lift the trophy in Moscow in a month’s time.
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“We have to remember those players who made history. I don't want to replace someone's name, I want my name to be beside theirs. Our focus here is the collective game," Jesus said. “I want to go down in history in Brazil. I just want to help Brazil win the final.”
Brazil open their campaign in Group E against Switzerland on June 17, followed by Costa Rica (June 22) and Serbia (June 27).
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