So Come Prove: The Double Battle of Risraelison and Gabriel Jesus | Israel today

Brazil's two warm-up games last week were a display of attacking intent by the Selecao.

Against Ghana and Tunisia, the Brazilians scored eight goals, with almost all the attacking players participating in the celebration: Neymar scored twice and scored one;

Rafinha scored twice and made two assists;

Pedro celebrated a debut goal;

Vinicius juggled on the wing, Anthony and Rodrigo contributed their share and above all Richarlison stood out with three goals in the two games.

All this, and to think that Gabriel Jesus was not called to the squad at all.

It looks and sounds like a small and marginal matter, and mostly temporary.

"Jesus is in excellent shape and he is definitely in the plans," reassured coach Chicha, while the Arsenal striker said "I respect the coach's decision and the players in the squad. I will do my best to win another opportunity."

Gabriel Jesus.

Will it even be in Qatar?, Photo: Getty Images

Jesus is in such good form that it is hard to imagine him staying out of the World Cup.

Since the summer passed from Manchester City to Arsenal, something has been released in him and it was reflected in four goals and three assists in seven Premier League games and many more beautiful ones in the preparation games.

The 25-year-old striker is more mobile than ever, full of self-confidence and is in the best shape of his career.

If until now he was a regular player in the Brazil national team squad, it was requested that he would be in these games as well - and even the team player.

So is the fact that he was not invited to the last two World Cup warm-up games really a negligible matter?

Did Chicha leave him out to test others?

Is his place guaranteed?

Not sure at all.

Rishralison.

His place in the upcoming World Cup is actually guaranteed, photo: Reuters

Jesus has always been one of the favorite players of the coach of the Brazilian national team.

He was called to the squad when he was a Palmeiras player and very quickly became a central screw in the formation and method and the main provider of goals.

As a result, in the World Cup in Russia, Jesus started the lineup in all five of Brazil's games, completing 90 minutes in three of them.

His tactical contribution was important, as was his defensive discipline, but time passed and the striker did not score.

Before the match against Belgium, the Brazilian crowd demanded a change - Roberto Firmino in place of Jesus - but Chiche was adamant and continued with the one who played at Manchester City at the time.

It did not work.

Gabriel Jesus.

Won't the good start of the season be enough?, Photo: AFP

Brazil fell behind 2:0 early and Jesus was replaced after 58 minutes.

Renato Augusto's withering goal was not enough, and Brazil finished a World Cup with their striker - number 9 on the back - closing the tournament with 407 minutes and without a single goal.

Since then, Jesus' position in the team has changed.

In the first squad published by the coach after the 2018 World Cup - when the team's face was already towards the Copa America 2019 and Qatar 2022 - Jesus' name did not appear.

This was a big surprise on the one hand, since Jesus was the top scorer under Chicha, but on the other hand he was received with some understanding in view of the disappointment in the World Cup.

Risraelison stars in Brazil's uniform.

bought his place,

Knowing that Brazil needs a true striker in order to return and lift the trophy that has eluded them since 2002, the national coach decided to try other things.

Therefore, when he returned Jesus to the squad, he moved him to the wing, close to the line.

It worked quite well in the 2019 continental tournament where a City player scored in the semi-final against Argentina and in the final against Peru, but it pretty much ended there.

In the three years that have passed since then, Jesus ended the Copa America 2021 without goals and with a red card in the quarter-finals against Chile, while adding only one more goal to his record since then - in a warm-up game against Cora.

Today, Brazil has extremists no less good than him - Vinicius, Anthony, Rafinha in the lead - and today they also have a striker who scores goals: Richarlison.

Risraelison celebrates with Kane in a Tottenham uniform, photo: AP

With 17 goals in 38 games for the Selecao, the Tottenham striker looks like what Brazil have been looking for since Ronaldo left: someone who puts the ball in the net without dribbling it first.

A striker who is not a juggler, a purposeful person whose purpose is to score goals, number 9 who is proud of the work of scoring;

"I hope I'll continue to do that," he said after seven goals in his last six games, and there's no reason it won't happen.

Jesus.

Will he get a back?, Photo: Reuters

In a team loaded with offensive talent and full of players who are able to provide a dribble that ends in a dream cross, Richarlison is a perfect address.

"He smells goals," his coach complimented him this week;

"He doesn't care about anything except putting the ball in his face."

Since being called up for the first time after the World Cup in 2018 and in place of the injured Pedro, Richarlison has made his way to the top.

He scored with his head, with his right and with his left, many times with one touch.

He finished the qualifiers for the World Cup with six goals, while Gabriel Jesus did not score at all.

Chicha, coach of Brazil.

Are the lists ready yet?

In the absence of more national team games, Jesus' path to the national team goes through the ability he will demonstrate at Arsenal.

And on Saturday, as ordered, the journey there continues with a North London derby against Tottenham and Richarlison.

Although it is not at all certain that the Roosters striker will start in the team, and even that he does not yet have a Premier League goal in the white uniform, he does not have to prove anything.

He is the new 9 of Brazil.

It is Jesus, despite everything he has done this season, who is facing a national test.

In the time he has left, he must convince Chicha that he deserves to be in Qatar - not as the starting striker, but as part of the Selecao.

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