Brazil manager Tite has been having ‘sleepless nights’ over his decision to drop Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino for the World Cup.
Firmino was a notable omission from the Selecao’s final squad, which was announced on Monday. And speaking to Sky Sports News (7/11/22 5.25pm), South American expert Tim Vickery gave an insight into Tite’s decision to pick Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli instead.
“Gabriel Martinelli, this is something which has given the coach sleepless nights,” said the journalist. “I was with the coach [Tite] two or three weeks ago. It was after Arsenal had beaten Liverpool. Martinelli, the coach’s words were ‘he has been the best player on the pitch.’
“Now, back then, a month or so ago, I don’t think Martinelli was in the squad. But he has forced his way in through sheer week-after-week excellence. But it has been a very difficult decision. How are you going to get him in?
“Well, there were two options, one was to pick only one right-back and not take Daniel Alves, who is 39, that’s getting most of the headlines over here. They chose not to do that.
“The fellow that has been left out is Roberto Firmino of Liverpool. Now, Brazil are taking a bit of a risk here. Martinelli, as you know, is a wide striker. Brazil have more wide strikers than they know what to do with. What they don’t have is a straight replacement for Neymar. They don’t have a straight replacement for him in that false nine position. Firmino was their man. They have decided to leave him out.”
Firmino left to ponder what could have been
Listening to Vickery, it is a little bemusing as to why Tite has made the decision that he has.
Of course, Martinelli is a super player. As Vickery mentions, Liverpool fans know that better than most. He’s also in very good form.
But he isn’t a central forward. Brazil are blessed with a number of wide forwards who all do a similar job. Martinelli may be terrific, but is he that much better than Vinicius Junior, or Antony, or Raphinha? Probably not.
Firmino on the other hand can completely change the set-up of a team. If things aren’t working out, he can be the man to alter the shape, to give something a little more intricate.
At the very least, he is a fantastic option from the bench. In tournament football, you need players who can create a moment of magic. For all the class of Brazil’s other forwards, Firmino has outscored them all this season. Those from the Premier League at least.
Alas, it wasn’t to be for Bobby. Brazil remain one of the favourites for the competition, though. No doubt should they win it, the Liverpool man will be the first one to celebrate.
Still, there will remain the feeling that it should have been him.
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