Sorry Roy, the dance goes on. Brazilian head coach Tite could scarcely have been more emphatic had he waltzed into the great dancing debate in Cuban heels and sequins. It was not for him, he said, to address the ignorance of foreigners, of those like Keane who were unfamiliar with Brazilian customs. But for those willing to learn about other cultures Tite had this clarification ahead of Brazils’ quarter-final against Croatia, when observers can expect Brazilian goals to trigger another carnival response.
“This is not my team. This is Brazil’s team. I’m responsible as head coach. I will not address my comments to those who don’t know the Brazilian country or culture. I want my connection to be with those who can relate to my work. To those I give my heart and my respect. I respect the culture of the team I play with. It’s not being disrespectful. That’s how we do things. And we will continue to do things in our manner. If I have to dance to be connected with those who know me, I will.”
Keane was offended by the exuberance displayed during the 4-1 thrashing of South Korea in the last 16. One “jig” would have been fine, said old bluster beard, but more than that was disrespectful. Interestingly Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said he would not like his team to behave in the Brazilian style, but accepted that it was an expression of their culture. “They have their own way,” he said. “They are so festive, so in unity, demonstrating their character and tradition. It’s their right. Do I respect or disrespect? I would not like my players to celebrate like that. But theirs is a different culture and it’s nice to see them like that.”
Remarkably Tite was under attack from Brazilian critics not for getting down with the lads but for his constant rotation of personnel and change in formations. The defeat by Cameroon in the final group match after fielding a much-changed team drew heavy fire that was only partially assuaged by the victory over South Korea. It would appear that the sky-high approval given by the majority of Brazil’s opponents is not shared by the national media, one member of which felt it necessary to justify his position in the pre-match conference, which earned a round of applause.
Croatia are arguably the weakest of the eight quarter-final teams, managing only one win against Canada in Group F and edging through in second place with goalless draws against Morocco and Belgium. The team is not the highly evolved unit that reached the final in Russia at England’s expense four years ago. Only six of that group remain, the ageing core led by Luca Modric and Ivan Perisic, on which the team relies heavily.
Dalic is hoping to exploit the loophole offered by Brazil’s fanatical support that is notoriously brittle and communicates its unrest when expectations are not met. And there was much of that during the group stage when Brazil hit their unique rhythms only episodically against Serbia and Switzerland before losing to Cameroon.
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Perhaps mindful of Brazil’s recent record, going out at the quarter-final stage against European opposition in three of the last four World Cups, Tite spoke admiringly of Croatia. “They have a lot of individual skill. And they have group skill, resilience and persistence. To get to this level that is what is required. We have to repeat our standard. We play to our maximum and whoever is best progresses.”
That won’t do much to appease an audience with nil tolerance of failure. Despite the attributes of its big ticket items, Neymar and Vinicius Jnr, and the unexpected sexing-up of Richarlison, this is not a vintage Selecao. It is the consistency of Thiago Silva and Marquinhos in the centre of defence and the calm authority of Casemiro at the base of the midfield that has served the team best.
If the Brazilian fireworks ignite it could get ugly for Croatia, if not it might get uncomfortable for Brazil, as Tite pretty much accepted. “Brazilian football identity started a long time ago, training young players so that they could produce good football,” he said. “Even with all risks it entails, I know we face critics, but that is the football I believe in.”
Timeless Modric is Croatia’s magic potion
Luka Modric is 37, among the oldest at Qatar 2022. Though he would not say if defeat against Brazil would signal retirement, he did ask that any who might know of an anti-ageing treatment should seek him out. A magic potion for Modric? He is the magic potion and still the heartbeat of this team, his presence in the quarter-final one of the principal sources of optimism for Croatia.
The question of retirement is understandable but also reasonable to reject in his case. “I will see how long I can play. I’m focused on the World Cup and will have time to reflect on the future,” he said. “Unfortunately I don’t have a technique for regeneration. If you have a secret on staying young, come to me.”
Modric played 100 minutes of the last 16 victory against Japan, with Dalic joking that he took him off early to save him for Brazil. Having satisfied his professional desires with Real Madrid, winning La Liga three times in ten years and five Champions League trophies, lining up for Croatia in a World Cup quarter-final against Brazil at 37 has the whiff of icing on a cake for Modric.
“I believe big things are possible. The only prerequisite is that we give our best,” he said. “The greatest match at the World Cup is a head of us. Brazil are always favourites. They have demonstrated they deserve to be that. We have to be ourselves, do our best. If we do that we have chances.”
Croatia have yet to beat Brazil in four meetings, drawing one and losing three. To that, Modric says, so what? “Favourites can lose. We are not bothered by statistics. We have confidence and know how capable we are. That is our approach. We have not beaten them but hopefully that tradition can change. There is no better motivation than playing Brazil. It’s a pure pleasure, all you can hope for.”
Like Modric, Dalic sees it as an achievement to be among the best eight teams for the second World Cup in succession and a privilege to be contesting this kind of match against Brazil. “They have phenomenal players. We will have to adopt an aggressive attitude, play a high tempo and keep them under control. We have to be assertive and not let them out of our sight.”
Though the personnel are much changed from the final against France four years ago, Dalic believes there is enough tournament savvy in the group to offer hope. “France were great, and a big challenge. I wish this game was a bit later in the competition but life is such. Croatia is a small country. We are one of the best eight teams and our ambitions will not rest with this match.”
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