Football
ESPN staff 7y

Neymar credits 'Brazilian way' for 2018 World Cup qualification

Barcelona forward Neymar has said that the Selecao are back to playing "the Brazilian way," and credited coach Tite for turning the team around as they became the first nation to qualify for next year's World Cup, alongside host Russia.

The former Corinthians coach has led Brazil to nine consecutive wins since taking over as manager, and the team have scored 25 goals and conceded just two. They won 4-1 against Uruguay in Montevideo last week, and they bested Paraguay 3-0 on Tuesday to seal their passage with four games still left to play in CONMEBOL qualifying.

On Tuesday in Sao Paulo, Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho curled in a low opener and Neymar capped an eventful evening with a goal in the second half before Marcelo added a late third.

Neymar, captaining the side, missed a penalty and saw an effort chalked off for offside on an evening when he was routinely on the end of rough treatment from the Paraguay defenders.

"There were many fouls on me," Neymar said of the Paraguayan defense. "But I don't care anymore. They can hit me as much as they want. It is the only way they will stop me."

Neymar said Tite has been instrumental in the team's turnaround less than three years after the most humiliating loss in its proud football history, the 7-1 trashing by Germany in the 2014 World Cup semifinal.

"Tite managed to mould us in the right way, the Brazilian way and we are playing football now," Neymar said. "I don't think he's changed that many players. We've just changed the way to play and this is starting to show up in all the players with all their strengths. And I've always said that Brazil have a lot of high quality players. And I think that is the main reason we are playing well."

The road to qualification was rocky in the beginning. Dunga's surprising appointment as head coach after Brazil lost their home World Cup distanced many fans. Frustration built after a quarterfinal elimination to Paraguay at the 2015 Copa America.

In that time, defeats gave popularity to a new Brazilian saying every time something goes terribly wrong: "Every day is a new 7-1."

Elimination in the group stage at Copa America Centenario in the United States in 2016 ended Dunga's run as Brazil coach. When Tite took over, Brazil were sixth in the standings.

"I am very happy that we have our fans behind us again," Neymar told reporters after the match. "I hope they leave their homes and that it gives them great pleasure to come and watch Brazil play. 

"I think we had lost them a bit, I can remember when I was younger that I always wanted to watch Brazil play. Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Robinho, they were all my idols. And I think that [enthusiasm] is returning. So that makes me very happy."

Tite's team secured a World Cup berth via a 3-0 win at Ecuador, followed by a 2-1 home victory over Colombia. Tite won fans back with the 3-0 victory over Argentina in the same stadium where Brazil had been humiliated against Germany.

"The whole team deserves credit, not just myself. I don't play alone, I always say that. We are a very talented, well put-together team. We have a very solid structure and everyone did very well today.

Tite told reporters that this Brazil squad play more like the Brazil of old.

"Thank you, my good God. I will have a caipirinha this big," the coach said, showing with his hands that he wanted an extra-large drink.

Brazil's strong defense have conceded only two goals in eight matches and even without injured teenage target-man Gabriel Jesus, they can still score many goals.

"Everything changed," winger Marcelo said. "You can see the atmosphere, how much players are giving. Everyone is working hard in each training, giving our lives."

Under the new management, Brazil won eight straight matches and secured 24 of its 33 points. Second-place Colombia has 24 points total from its 14 games.

Some of the veterans of that 7-1 loss to Germany are key to Brazil's success too. Wingers Dani Alves and Marcelo and midfielder Paulinho are all starters. And they want to avenge the humbling defeat.

"We are just getting started," Paulinho said. "Adversaries better watch out because Brazil is coming with it all."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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