Kolkata: The Brazilian football team has always been a joy to watch with their attractive style of play and the Samba boys have mesmerized people since the days of Pele. Once a footballing powerhouse, things have however changed in the recent times, with European teams moving ahead of the five-time-champions, both in glory and rankings.
Although the Brazilian U-17 national team lure just behind defending champions Nigeria, with three trophies, it has been 14 years since they lifted the FIFA U-17 World Cup. They were on a roll when they won back to back titles in 1997 and 1999 and soon followed it up by winning again in 2003, but trophies looks to have dried out for the Brazilian colts in recent times.
The current bunch of Brazilian U-17 stars have come to India with a sole aim to reclaim lost pride- to win the covered trophy that has eluded them for the last 14 years.
“This has been our goal since we started to work for the national team,” said head coach Carlos Amadeu. It sums up the entire tournament for the young colts in yellow, who won the South American U-17 Championships in style. They won seven of the nine matches and scored a mammoth 24 goals while conceeding only three.
Despite youth sensation Vinicius Junior ruling himself out of the tournament after Brazilian club Flamengo refused to release him for the World Cup, the Selecao country this year have a host of other stars to watch out for in the tournament.
1. Lincoln Corrêa dos Santos – A product of the Flamengo youth academy, Lincoln although only 16 plays for the U-20s side of the club. The forward came to limelight in the South American U-17 Championships where he formed a striking partnership with Vinicius Junior, scoring five goals that helped Brazil win the tournament.
Blessed with a killer instinct, Lincoln apart from scoring goals also has the abilities to come deep into midfield and create chances. A die-hard fan of Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar Junior the 16-year-old will surely be a player to watch out for.
2. Yuri Alberto – For a player who has scored 51 goals in 35 games in the last season for Santos, Alberto is chased by many top European clubs that includes Manchester United, Arsenal as well as AS Roma. Many eyes will be on the 16-year-old forward who can also play as a winger and is tipped to be the next Gabriel Jesus In Brazil. He however dreams to a play in the Serie A and can possibly do so if he can lead Brazil to the title.
3. Alan Souza – The Brazilian new number 10 who has already scored 3 goals in the South American U-17 Championships 2017 will look to continue with the same form in the World Cup. The left-footed attacking midfielder is already linked with Real Madrid and in the absence of Vinicius Junior, will look to provide the strikers with ample opportunities to score.
4. Paulo Henrique Sampaio Filho – Fondly known as ‘Paulinho’ he is the first player born after January 1, 2000 to score in the Brasileirao (Brazil’s top football league). The 17-year-old came to the limelight when he scored two goals for Vasco da Gama in only his second match for the club against Atletico Minerio. Known for his versatility although a winger, he can also play in the midfield as well as a left side-back. His attacks will be instrumental to Brazil’s chances in the World Cup.
5. Vitinho – Only 17 years of age, Vitinho has already had a trial with Manchester City. He has a passing range that impressed Pep Guardiola, who will surely sent his scouts to have a look at the young Corinthians’ player in the World Cup. He was the top scorer for Brazil in the U-15 South American Championships, which Brazil won and also played an important role in the U-20 Sao Paulo Youth Cup. With strikers such as Lincoln and Yuri Alberto in front of him, pressure will be on Vitinho to deliver defence splitting balls from midfield to win matches and it should not be tough for him, having done the same in Brazil.