Roberto Firmino failed to get on the pitch for Brazil on Friday putting the Liverpool man’s World Cup place in doubt.
Firmino returned to Tite’s squad for the first time in over a year this week. But having been given a final chance to impress before the winter tournament, the Liverpool striker was then left on the bench.
Ordinarily, this wouldn’t necessarily be too much of an issue. If Bobby’s spot in the squad was secure, there’d be no need to be alarmed.
But really, the opposite is true. Firmino now has just one game to show Tite why he deserves to be on the plane to Qatar. If he fails to have any impact, or get any minutes, against Tunisia on Tuesday, it could be the final nail in the coffin.
Firmino’s World Cup hopes hanging by a thread
Firmino couldn’t really have been unluckier with the timing of his injuries last season. Up until summer of 2021, the 30-year-old was a near constant presence in his nation’s team.
But after missing large chunks of last season, he now finds his World Cup place in doubt. Had he stayed fit, he’d likely be a certainty for the squad.
This being Brazil though, there is plenty of attacking competition for Bobby to jostle with. On Friday, it was Tottenham’s Richarlison who stole the show, scoring twice.
A further goal from Vinicius Junior mean that Brazil were 3-0 up against Ghana before half-time. It should have been a good time for Tite to give some of those with question marks over them a chance to impress.
Perhaps he did that, with the likes of Matheus Cunha and Rodrygo Goes coming on. But through it all, Firmino remained unused.
Cunha’s introduction will have been the most concerning for Liverpool’s No.9. Although slightly different players, the Atletico Madrid man is perhaps the most likely to replace Firmino like-for-like.
That the 23-year-old was given the opportunity instead is maybe a sign that it isn’t going to be Firmino’s year.
Still, there is that one chance left on Tuesday. Even if it turns out to be another watching brief for Bobby, he’s still got another month or so to show Tite that he’s still the ‘elite’ forward Ian Wright has previously described him as. It isn’t over yet, but it’s hanging by a thread.
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