DOHA: Brazil Coach Tite has responded to criticism of his players’ dancing goal celebrations during their World Cup victory South Koreaby refusing suggestions, they showed a lack of respect.
The tournament favorites produced carnival football by beating the Koreans 4-1 on Monday, celebrating their goals with choreographed moves, while even Tite himself took part once.
The celebrations divided opinions outside of Brazil and dancing by neymar and his teammates were one of the main talking points ahead of Friday’s quarter-final game in Doha against Croatia.
“It’s not my national team. It’s the Brazilian national team that I’m responsible for as a coach,” Tite said when asked about the celebrations at a press conference on Thursday.
“I feel sorry for the people who don’t know the history and culture of Brazil and our way of being.”
The 61-year-old, who is in charge of his second World Cup as Brazil coach and will step down at the end of the tournament, hinted he was uncomfortable dancing along but admitted he wanted to have a connection with the players.
“I’m 61 and these players could almost be my grandchildren but I have a connection with them,” he said.
“If I have to dance, I will dance, although I will do it subtly and I’ve asked her to hide me. It’s not my style.”
The pressure is on for Brazil’s new generation of stars as they seek to lift the World Cup for the sixth time, two decades after the Selecao last lifted the trophy in Japan in 2002.
The question now is whether they can carry on with the joy they showed against South Korea when the tournament in Qatar draws to a close, but Tite said it’s all about the personality of his players.
“It’s the identity of Brazilian football and the generation that has emerged,” said the veteran coach, who won the Club World Cup with Corinthians a decade ago.
“We give them the confidence to go out there and do their best.
“Those are the qualities of our players, but apart from that pressure, it takes courage to play like that.”
While Neymar and full-back Danilo returned to play against South Korea after ankle injuries, Brazil sweated on Alex Sandro’s fitness for the clash with Croatia.
The Juventus left-back missed the last two games in Qatar with a muscle injury.
“It looks unlikely that he will play because he hasn’t done enough work on the training ground,” admitted Tite, adding that a decision would be made after Thursday’s session.
If Alex Sandro is unable to play, Danilo will continue at left-back while Real Madrid’s Eder Militao, normally a centre-back, will step in at right again.
The tournament favorites produced carnival football by beating the Koreans 4-1 on Monday, celebrating their goals with choreographed moves, while even Tite himself took part once.
The celebrations divided opinions outside of Brazil and dancing by neymar and his teammates were one of the main talking points ahead of Friday’s quarter-final game in Doha against Croatia.
“It’s not my national team. It’s the Brazilian national team that I’m responsible for as a coach,” Tite said when asked about the celebrations at a press conference on Thursday.
“I feel sorry for the people who don’t know the history and culture of Brazil and our way of being.”
The 61-year-old, who is in charge of his second World Cup as Brazil coach and will step down at the end of the tournament, hinted he was uncomfortable dancing along but admitted he wanted to have a connection with the players.
“I’m 61 and these players could almost be my grandchildren but I have a connection with them,” he said.
“If I have to dance, I will dance, although I will do it subtly and I’ve asked her to hide me. It’s not my style.”
The pressure is on for Brazil’s new generation of stars as they seek to lift the World Cup for the sixth time, two decades after the Selecao last lifted the trophy in Japan in 2002.
The question now is whether they can carry on with the joy they showed against South Korea when the tournament in Qatar draws to a close, but Tite said it’s all about the personality of his players.
“It’s the identity of Brazilian football and the generation that has emerged,” said the veteran coach, who won the Club World Cup with Corinthians a decade ago.
“We give them the confidence to go out there and do their best.
“Those are the qualities of our players, but apart from that pressure, it takes courage to play like that.”
While Neymar and full-back Danilo returned to play against South Korea after ankle injuries, Brazil sweated on Alex Sandro’s fitness for the clash with Croatia.
The Juventus left-back missed the last two games in Qatar with a muscle injury.
“It looks unlikely that he will play because he hasn’t done enough work on the training ground,” admitted Tite, adding that a decision would be made after Thursday’s session.
If Alex Sandro is unable to play, Danilo will continue at left-back while Real Madrid’s Eder Militao, normally a centre-back, will step in at right again.
