Brazil-Serbia
on the field at 20, in a match valid for group G.
In a World Cup hitherto stingy with football entertainment, it could be the day of change.
In fact, two of the teams in theory most likely to entertain the spectators face each other, Brazil and Serbia who were rivals in the group stage also in 2018 in Russia
to.
Since that day they have never faced each other again but the appointment is for 22 local time (20 in Italy) when two hundred million Brazilians will forget the clashes of the Bolsonaro-Lula presidential challenge and the pain for the disappearance of two legends of popular music brasileira' like Gal Costa and Erasmo Carlos and will go back to thinking only of the ball.
"We play for a country in love with football," says Tite, coach of the Selecao.
The dream of the hexa is more alive than ever, comforted by Brazil's first place in the Fifa standings: but also given the missteps of Argentina and Germany, we need to start well against a rival that many indicate as a possible surprise of the tournament in Qatar.
Meanwhile Tite, the coach who will let go at the end of the World Cup, makes it official that the captain will be the 38-year-old Thiago Silva,
"I won't tell you if Vinicius will play (in which case Fred would leave, and Paquetà would retreat in midfield with Casemiro ed), because I don't want to give our opponents an advantage. Who will we play for? Brazil has a great tradition and the people passion for football.
I realize it first, and it's nice to do a job from start to finish and have a good chance of success: I'm privileged, because others could have stayed here in my place
". But does Tite feel the pressure determined by expectations? "Less than in 2018 - he replies -.
Our story is beautiful and puts pressure, but it's the one that lives in a country in love, it's in the streets.
Mainly that of children - he explains -.
There is pressure but also the tranquility of knowing the opportunities that present themselves in life, including that of dreaming.
We dream of being champions, but only one national team will be, and the pressure is inevitable". Moreover, expectations also concern Serbia, which however makes fearing nothing and nobody its strength. And then in tomorrow's match there is even a bit of superstition: Sergej Milinkovic-Savic finds that Brazil against which, seven years ago, he won 2-1 in the final of the Under 20 World Cup for which he was elected 'Bronze'.
At that time Dragan 'Pixie' Stojkovic, former director of Verona, held managerial positions, now he is the national coach and says that "we are not afraid of anyone in the world, even if Brazil is the expression of a golden generation.
It's not important how the Seleçao play, but how we do it We focus on our qualities and want to show a great Serbia
But this story of the drone is disinformation - comments Stojkovic - and then who are we to be spied on?
Brazil are a superpower in football and even if they had sent a drone above us I don't know what they would have seen, nothing special". For surprises, the Serbia coach makes an appointment on the pitch.