Gary Neville has predicted that Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker will win the World Cup with Brazil.
The Reds goalie has played all 180 minutes of his country’s tournament so far, winning both games. And speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast, the pundit suggested that Alisson will have a big say in Brazil’s success.
“I said Brazil at the start of the tournament, and you wonder whether Brazil are just purring nicely,” began Neville. “The big two of Marquinhos and Thiago Silva are very, very good, Casemiro is very good, so they have that base, and the goalkeeper is outstanding and will save one v ones. So you still think it’s them [who will win it].”
Having beaten Serbia and then Switzerland without conceding a goal, the Selecao have already qualified for the knockout stages. Alisson, and perhaps Fabinho, will play Cameroon tomorrow in their final group game.
Alisson yet to be tested
Remarkably, Alisson is still yet to face a shot on target during his time in Qatar. Across two games, neither Serbia nor Switzerland have got close to testing the Liverpool stopper.
So, perhaps it’s a little early to start proclaiming him unbeatable. But from what we’ve seen at Liverpool this season, teams may as well not even bother shooting at all.
Shooting only delays the inevitable pain of Alisson extinguishing the hope of a goal. At least if you don’t shoot at all, you don’t feel that crushing disappointment when the 30-year-old smothers you.
Of course, Alisson will be beaten eventually. No team has ever won the World Cup without conceding a goal.
Should that record eventually tumble though, the Liverpool man would be a worthy holder of it.
His performances this season have only confirmed what we already knew: Alisson Becker is the best goalkeeper around right now.
Having him in the side inevitably makes any XI better. Already bursting with talent, it’s easy to see why many, including Neville, see the Liverpool ‘keeper as being the deciding factor for Brazil.
There’s still a lot of football to be played, but so far so good for Ali.
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