The World Cup favourites meet Cameroon at
the Lusail Stadium needing just a draw to secure top spot in Group G after
starting their campaign with wins over Serbia and Switzerland.
Even a defeat would not stop them topping
the section so long as the Swiss fail to win at the same time against Serbia,
but France have already shown that changing most of your starting line-up does
not necessarily work out.
The holders made nine changes for their
final group game against Tunisia on Wednesday and put in a disjointed
performance in a 1-0 defeat.
“I can only measure the players based on
what they do on the field. It is a risk, yes, but it is an opportunity for them
to show their quality,” Tite said when asked about the pitfalls of making too
many alterations.
Brazil will still be without Neymar and
right-back Danilo, who both suffered ankle injuries against Cameroon, while
left-back Alex Sandro is ruled out too.
Tite is expected to rest the likes of
goalkeeper Alisson Becker, centre-back duo Thiago Silva and Marquinhos,
Casemiro, Lucas Paqueta, Vinicius Junior and Richarlison against a Cameroon
side who have to win to stand a chance of progressing.
Among the players set to come into the side
are Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson, Liverpool midfielder Fabinho, and
veteran right-back Dani Alves.
The decision to include the 39-year-old
Alves, who made his international debut in 2006, in the squad was criticised in
some quarters in Brazil.
Alves, who missed the 2018 tournament due
to injury, ended a second spell at Barcelona at the end of last season and is
now playing club football in Mexico.
“I have been playing for Brazil for many
years and it gives me great satisfaction to be able to close out this cycle by
playing at a World Cup,” said Alves, who could be joined in Tite’s line-up by
the likes of Antony and Gabriel Martinelli, who are aged 22 and 21
respectively.
“I have been here for 16 years and this is
the most balanced squad we have had in that time,” he said.
“Age doesn’t matter in football. Whether
you are the youngest or oldest, all that matters is if you are good enough.”
Brazil have lost just once in the first
round of the World Cup since 1966, and that defeat in 1998 to Norway came after
they had already sewn up top spot in the group.
If they top the group, they will play their
last-16 tie on Monday against the runners-up in Group H, which features
Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea. AFP