Is Fred Worth His Place in the Brazil Team for the World Cup?

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: April 1, 2014

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Whilst Brazil's World Cup squad arguably still has a couple of vacancies, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari's starting XI is as good as set in stone.

Barring any last-minute injuries, the man to take the hallowed No. 9 shirt is Fluminense striker Fred. Come kick-off against Croatia on June 12 at the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo, the 30-year-old former Lyon forward will be the only home-based player taking to the field for the Selecao.

The Brazilian fans—likely to be more vociferous than ever as they host a World Cup tournament for the first time in 64 years—are famously supportive of players plying their trade on home soil.

It is a reminder that, whilst the best stars have for decades now crossed the Atlantic to more lucrative seas in Europe, their own domestic championship in Brazil is still capable of testing prospective world champions.



A little under four years ago, I was at Rio de Janeiro's Galeao airport as the Brazil squad made their way back from South Africa. They had been knocked out at the quarter-final stage by Holland and tensions were running high.

Much of the anger was directed at goalkeeper Julio Cesar, whose error had gifted the Dutch their equaliser. Catcalls and jeers greeted most of the players as they tried to sneak through the arrival gate in the wee hours.

Yet Kleberson and Gilberto, the only Brazil-based players in Dunga's 2010 squad, walked through unscathed. And neither played a minute during the tournament.

Such an anecdote may lead you to believe that the fact the current national No. 9 is playing his club football at home would be an enormous source of pride for Brazil. But, for the public at least, the jury remains out on Fred.



He is not in the same mould as some of the classic Brazilians to lead the line down the years. When he signed for Fluminense in 2009, he stated his mission was to make himself the c...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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