Although European football is currently, finally, on pause – the South American football calendar is at its peak, with the Brasileiro Série A and other domestic competitions across the continent in full flow.
One of several games to take place in Brazil this week was where Club World Cup semi finalists Fluminense hosted Cruzeiro, with the visitors coming away with a 2-0 victory to go three points clear at the top of the Brasileiro.
Both the goals came in a five minute period in the first half, with the second coming from Kaio Jorge, making it 12 goals in 13 league games so far this season.
One of many issues the Brazil national team have is up front. Although Richarlison has a good record for Brazil, he has struggled more of late, and there are a serious lack of goals in the side.
During the most recent international break, Carlo Ancelotti’s side scored just one goal across their two games against Ecuador and Paraguay. They have only scored more than one goal once in their last six games.
Outside of a 5-1 win at home to Bolivia, The Seleção have scored just 16 goals in 15 World Cup qualifying games. With Neymar consistently injured, and Vinicius unable to replicate his club form for the national team, there is a serious lack of goals in the side.
Recent Nottingham Forest signing Igor Jesus also provides an option, but there is no doubt that the time has come for Jorge to, at the very least, be part of the squad for the forthcoming qualifiers against Chile and Bolivia in the Autumn.
With Brazil having secured their qualification to the World Cup, those aforementioned qualifiers and the pending friendlies in October and November give Ancelotti the perfect opportunity to bed players like Jorge into the squad.
The goal Jorge scored against Fluminense was assisted by Matheus Pereira, after a lovely team move. It was Pereira’s second assist of the game, as he also makes his case to be called up to the national team. This makes it four assists in his last two games.
Although an appearance in one of the Autumn games would not be a debut for Pereira, having played 12 minutes in a 4-0 win over Peru last October, he would also add some fresh impetus into a side that need ideas at the moment.
Whilst European football in general may be of a high level than Brazilian football, it does not mean that every player playing in Europe is better than every player playing in Brazil, far from it.
For example, is a player like Andreas Pereira of Fulham really better than Pereira? And is Richarlison really better than Jorge? With Ancelotti residing in Brazil, and no doubt attending several Brasileiro games, hopefully we will see a number of domestic players getting their chance.
Although there is a clear short term remit for Ancelotti to come in and try to win the World Cup, there is no harm in experimenting with new players. There is little risk in doing so, with there being nothing to lose based on recent performances and results. Let’s see.
