Why Brazil Friendlies Threaten Cruzeiro’s Title Challenge

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: September 19, 2014

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A week is a long time in football. Having survived the loss of four key players to international duty with minimal damage, Cruzeiro's 2-0 defeat to Sao Paulo last weekend appeared to throw the Brasileirao title race wide open once more. With their long-standing lead cut to just four points, doubts began to emerge over A Raposa's ability to retain the league title which they won with such ease last season.

By mid-week, though, the balance of power had already taken a major swing back in their direction. Having beaten Atletico-PR 2-0 on Wednesday night, Cruzeirenses were left delighted when their main rivals fell to an unexpected 3-1 defeat to relegation-threatened Coritiba.

It is their consistency against all comers that has seen Cruzeiro establish themselves comfortably as Brazil's best side over the past two years, with unparalleled depth to their squad. However, their ascent to the top is not without its challenges, and the attention their players are now attracting from national team selectors is becoming a major issue.

In coach Dunga's latest squad announced this week for fixtures with Argentina and Japan, forwards Everton Ribeiro and Ricardo Goulart were both once more called for duty with the Selecao. Trips to Beijing and Singapore are the consequence, with a further two league matches set to be affected.



With their title challenge coming under pressure from a rejuvenated Sao Paulo, to lose two key attacking players once more will hit the Minas Gerais side hard—even if their Brazil under-21 duo of Lucas Silva and Alisson have been excused from international duty this time around.

It is the absence of Sao Paulo players that is causing much consternation among fans of Cruzeiro. Much press attention is given to the Paulista side's magic attacking quartet of Kaka, Ganso, Alexandre Pato and Alan Kardec, yet none have been selected for either squad of Dunga's reign thus far. To make ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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