Tite vows to dance through World Cup in celebration of Brazil’s football ‘culture’

Tite made the valid point that he has different constituencies. The manager of a football-mad country of over 200 million people is automatically encumbered with pressure. But, Tite argued, his domestic audience have the necessary understanding of the country’s footballing DNA.

“I will not make comments to those who do not know Brazilian history and Brazilian culture and the way each and every one of us is, I leave that noise aside. I want my connection to my job, to those I relate to: those are the ones I give my heart and pay attention to.”

Tite spoke with an awareness that is part of something bigger; the footballing heritage of the most successful team in the history of the World Cup extends far beyond any individual. Managers certainly feel the subplots; Brazil teams tend to be defined by players, from Pele to Neymar via Garrincha, Jairzinho, Zico, Romario, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo and Kaka. Some sides are more pragmatic than their predecessors, some blessed with fewer magical talents and none are as celebrated as the star-studded collective of 1970, but strands run through them all.

“This is not my team, this is the Brazilian team,” Tite said. “The Brazilian football identity is not myself. It started a long time ago with desperate communities training boys so that they could produce good football even with all the risks it entails. We face challenges and criticisms but that is the football we believe in.”Picture 897353409

Tite dances with Richarlison and Brazilian teammates

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Tite’s team scored a mere three goals in the group stages before running riot with four before the break against South Korea. It coincided with Neymar’s return from injury. Now he could equal Pele’s record of 77 goals for the Selecao as Brazil, who have fallen at the quarter-final stage in three of the last four World Cups, look to overcome Croatia to reach just a second semi-final since their fifth title in 2002. Tite was in charge when they exited at this stage to Belgium four years ago but while he could become the sixth manager to take them to global glory, the players are more feted than the coaches. Rightly so, in his opinion.

“When we paint a painting the entire painting is the athletes. They are the ones who are portrayed in this painting and we [coaching staff] are just participants but the painting is the players themselves,” he said. But if the final picture is of Brazil dancing with the World Cup, there will be a man in his seventh decade attempting a jig along with his players. And he won’t apologise for that.

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