Brazil XI that will not be playing at the 2018 FIFA World Cup

Forwards: Lucas Moura, Willian Jose and Malcom

Lucas Moura has not been able to realise his potential with Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur

Brazil’s forwards at the World Cup feature Neymar, Roberto Firmino, Gabriel Jesus, Phlippe Coutinho, Willian, Douglas Costa and Taison! So it would be fair to say that Tite has picked his best players.

Tottenham’s Lucas Moura was touted to have as good a future as Neymar. In fact, PSG signed him for a hefty fee in 2013 after fending off interest from Manchester United. However, his career graph didn’t pan out the way most believed it would.

His move to Spurs in January was in the hope of more game time but he hasn’t been able to do that yet. Still only 25, Moura can revive his career if he wants to feature in Qatar in 2022.

Willian Jose has scored more goals this season than Gabriel Jesus

Willian Jose of Real Sociedad would have made the World Cup squad four years ago as Brazil’s strikers were Fred and Jo! This time around, Brazil go to the World Cup with Roberto Firmino and Gabriel Jesus, two of the best strikers in the Premier League and Europe.

Jose has scored 18 goals in 33 games for Real Sociedad this season which is actually one more than Gabriel Jesus managed in 42 games for Manchester City this season and Jesus is Brazil’s first choice striker.

However, numbers alone don’t do the trick as Jesus has a proven track record with Brazil having notched 9 goals in 15 games despite his tender age. In fact, Tite even admitted that Firmino had a better season than Jesus, but the latter will be starting for Brazil.

It is true that Firmino did better than Gabriel Jesus, who was injured in the season, but Gabriel in the Seleção plays very well. So yes, today he is our No.9.

Malcom played under Tite at Corinthians

Completing the XI is Malcom of Bordeaux who is a player that Tite is familiar with. A teenaged Malcom was part of Tite’s Corinthians squad that won the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A in 2015.

Malcom had a terrific season for Bordeaux as he racked up 11 goals and 6 assists in the Ligue 1. There were rumours that Tite would consider calling him up but that hasn’t happened yet.

The 21-year-old is rumoured to be on his way out of Bordeaux this summer with many potential suitors and if he can replicate his good form elsewhere then he could be in line for a future call-up, especially if Tite remains in charge of the national team.

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The Brazil XI that won't be playing in Russia this year