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Neymar (L)
of Brazil struggles for the ball during a match between Brazil and Paraguay
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Less than three years
after the most humiliating loss in its proud football history, a resurgent
Brazil has become the first team to qualify for the World Cup in Russia.
Associated
Press report continues:
With a convincing 3-0 victory over Paraguay on Tuesday
and results going its way elsewhere in South American qualifying, the
Brazilians ensured they'll join host Russia at the World Cup next year. Not bad
for a group filled with players who endured the 7-1 trashing by Germany in the
2014 World Cup semifinal - a group many fans not long ago treated with disdain.
The
road to qualification was rocky in the beginning, though. Dunga's surprising
appointment as head coach after Brazil lost its home World Cup distanced many
fans. Frustration built after a quarterfinal elimination to Paraguay at the
2015 Copa America.
Elimination
in the group stage at Copa America Centenario in the United States in 2016
ended Dunga's run as Brazil coach.
In
that time, defeats gave popularity to a new Brazilian saying every time
something goes terribly wrong: ''Every day is a new 7-1.''
Brazil's
football confederation didn't need merely a successor for Dunga. It needed a
national hero.
The
most popular choice was Corinthians coach Tite, who was overlooked after the
2014 World Cup debacle.
Tite
was not in charge of the Brazil team that won gold at the Rio de Janeiro
Olympics, with Neymar back in fine form, but his advice was surely heeded. That
title gave Brazil some confidence back, players say.
When
World Cup qualifiers resumed in September last year, Tite's team was ready to
dominate. A 3-0 win at Ecuador was followed by a 2-1 home victory over Colombia
made Brazilians sure they were on the right path. With the 3-0 victory over
Argentina in the same stadium where Brazil had been humiliated against Germany,
the coach's reputation was enhanced.
Results
and style have become so impressive that Brazil secured one of the top four
South American direct places at the World Cup with four matches remaining in
the qualifying tournament. It has become a team to fear again, as adversaries
such as Uruguay's coach Oscar Tabarez acknowledged. When Tite took over, Brazil
was sixth in the standings.
Now,
the coach who made the contemporary Brazil team more like the Brazil of old is
in celebration mode.
''Thank
you, my good God. I will have a caipirinha this big,'' the coach said, showing
with his hands that he wanted an extra-large drink.
Brazil
no longer depends entirely on Neymar, and it can play without its teenage
target-man Gabriel Jesus and still score many goals. The strong defense has
conceded only two goals in eight matches. There are still weaknesses, including
the lack of experience of the coach against teams from outside South America
and the corruption scandals that affect its football confederation. But the
momentum is clearly wearing yellow again.
''Everything
changed,'' winger Marcelo said. ''You can see the atmosphere, how much players
are giving. Everyone is working hard in each training, giving our lives.''
Under
the new management, Brazil won eight straight matches and secured 24 of its 33
points. Second-place Colombia has 24 points total from its 14 games.
Neymar
is also different, more mature. In the 4-1 thrashing of Uruguay last Thursday,
he gave the world a moment of revelation. Before he scored Brazil's third goal,
Neymar could have fallen in a challenge with defender Coates, who had already
been booked.
Instead
of diving, though, the Barcelona star stayed on his feet and netted the best
goal of the night.
''There
were many fouls on me,'' Neymar said of the Paraguayan defense. ''But I don't
care anymore. They can hit me as much as they want. It is the only way they
will stop me.''
Some
of the veterans of that 7-1 loss to Germany are key to Brazil's success too.
Wingers Dani Alves and Marcelo and midfielder Paulinho are all starters. And
they want to avenge the humbling defeat.
''We are just getting started,'' Paulinho said. ''Adversaries better watch out because Brazil is coming with it all.''
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