Sebastiao Lazaroni knows a thing or two about the Brazilian national team after having coached them during the 1990 World Cup.
Regarded as the most popular nation when it comes to football, Brazil have been struggling to assert their superiority in the game over the last decade. Since winning the World Cup 2002, Brazil have largely anonymous at international level. They desperately need to make a huge impact at the upcoming World Cup 2018 in Russia. However,Lazaroni fears for the national team since he has not seen a lot of promise from them under Dunga in the last 12 months.
Dunga was brought as the replacement for Luiz Felipe Scolari following a disastrous World Cup 2014 in which the team was thrashed in the final two matches. Dunga did well at all times outside the Copa America 2015. Once again, Brazil lost in the final and questions have been asked about the nerves of the team.Lazaroni failed to win the World Cup in 1990 but he was the manager of the first Brazilian team to win the Copa America in 1989. Neymar will be the best hope for Brazil at the World Cup. The Barcelona superstar has scored an astonishing 46 goals from just 67 matches for the national team and he will only be 23 during the World Cup.
"Another golden Brazilian generation is emerging with Neymar, Oscar, Lucas Moura, Philippe Coutinho, Willian, Roberto Firmino and Douglas Costa. They will achieve full maturity as a group, with Neymar as leader, by Qatar 2022 and could win the country's sixth World Cup title. I think Russia 2018 might come a bit too soon for them.They are all in their early 20s and can follow in the footsteps of Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Kaka, who won the fifth title in 2002," said Lazaroni.