Chasing 2002: How This Brazil Team Walks in the Footsteps of Greatness
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Football experts have not placed Brazil among the favorites this time. Instead, they have pushed them back with the tag of "dark horses." However, upon analysis, one will find many similarities between this Brazil band and the 2002 world champions.
Brazil has never had to wait more than 24 years to win a World Cup. After a 24-year trophy drought, the Seleção has now traveled to the United States. Exactly 24 years after winning the trophy in 1970, they won the 1994 World Cup in the United States. At the Rose Bowl Stadium, they lifted the golden trophy. They believe that after the final at MetLife Stadium this time, the long-desired trophy will be in the hands of Vinícius and Rafinha.
In a detailed analysis, many weaknesses may be apparent, but this team has achieved a good balance between former stars and the new generation. Alongside Neymar, Casemiro, and Danilo are three of the best players of this era: Vinícius Júnior, Raphinha, and Marquinhos. All three are playing excellently at their clubs. To that, you can add promising young players from the new generation like Endrick, Ryan, and Igor Thiago. The task of bringing together several generations to create a balanced team has been accomplished by Carlo Ancelotti.
This Italian coach has a charismatic presence in knockout tournaments. No one has been as successful as him in the Champions League, where he has won a record five titles. Additionally, he holds the record for winning all of Europe's top five football leagues. His World Cup campaign with Vinícius and Casemiro, with whom he achieved success in club football, begins tomorrow morning against Morocco.
Another big advantage of this Brazil team, crafted by the Italian, is that they are not on the favorites' list. This puts less pressure on the players. In 2014, with the advantage of being hosts and Neymar in tremendous form, expectations had risen greatly. That pressure saw them eliminated in the semifinals. In the next two World Cups, they played superbly in the qualifiers and raised many expectations heading into the main tournament.
However, in 2002, they barely made it through the qualifiers, playing poorly along the way. The team's responsibility also passed through the hands of four different coaches: Luxemburgo, Emerson Leão, Candinho, and Felipe Scolari. This time, after being passed around by Ramon, Diniz, and Dorival, the responsibility for Brazil ultimately fell into Ancelotti's hands.
Furthermore, before the 2002 World Cup, there were questions about Ronaldo's effectiveness due to injury. Later, the Phenomenon answered all criticism on the pitch and led Brazil to a fifth World Cup title. This time, there are all sorts of doubts and concerns about Neymar. Can this star, recovering from injury, succeed in Brazil's Hexa mission?
