Title favourites Brazil will start off their FIFA World Cup 2018 campaign against Switzerland at Rostov Arena on Sunday evening (June 17) and reports reveal that coach Tite has announced Marcelo as the captain of the five-time champion team.
Neymar was the captain, so far, but was frustrated over criticisms that were raised against the team and ergo renounced his position. He had further added that he won’t be taking up the armband again. Former Brazil captain and coach Dunga, in 2014, had removed Thiago Silva from the role after his emotional reaction against Chile during the penalty shoot-out.
So Coach Tite came up with rotation policy with the armband in his last 21 games which resulted in 14 different skippers. And in the match against Switzerland, it will rise to 22 with Marcelo taking up the responsibility.
So, this has been the list of Tite’s captains so far: Dani Alves (four times), Miranda (three), Neymar (two), Thiago Silva (two), Marcelo (two, as of Sunday), Casemiro, Renato Augusto, Gabriel Jesus, Willian, Philippe Coutinho, Fernandinho, Marquinhos, Filipe Luis and Robinho.
Embracing the responsibility, Marcelo said, “It’s something I like about leadership, I feel I can transmit it to the group,” he said.c “Everybody contributes to the group. I’m 30 years old and everything you go through in football, you take something from it.
“Way back as a child playing football on the beach, you dream of being a player representing your national team on the big stage – and now I get to be the captain. It’s something money can’t buy.”