FIFA World Cup 2022: Can Brazil End 20-Year Wait And Lift Trophy?

As the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar moves forward to the Round of 16, many are wondering about the chances of Brazil actually winning the World Cup for the first time in 20 years, especially as their best player’s status still remains in the air.

Brazil has won five World Cups in its entire history--1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002, but has since found itself in a 20-year drought since then. Tite’s reign as the head coach of Brazil has been mired by a quarter-final loss against Belgium in 2018 that cost them the Cup that year, according to Al-Jazeera.

His influence as the coach of Brazil has been heavily praised for how he has been able to balance their strategy with the attackers of the team, and he has only lost five matches out of the 78 that the team has ended up playing during his time, ESPN reported.

He has also adjusted his style after the loss against Belgium in 2018 to focus more on the midfield to ensure that the team is protected at all sides and that no holes will allow for the unexpected 2-1 loss that the team suffered back then.

Despite this, many are still doubting as to whether Brazil can take the Cup this year, and it’s repoetedly largely dependant on the country’s best player Neymar still being injured and unable to play. While the team was able to win their match against Switzerland due to a goal by Casemiro, it is still very much up in the air if they can win it all without their main player.

Fortunately, Neymar has reportedly healed his right ankle enough that Tite is considering putting him on the starter team for Brazil’s match on Monday against South Korea in the Round of 16, an unexpected move to make for a recently-injured player, but one that Tite has been insistent upon, Associated Press reported.

“I prefer to use my best player from the start,” the Brazilian coach said. “It’s the coach who has to make that decision and take on that responsibility.”