(photo: Ben Stansall/AFP and Pedro Souza/Atlético)
In the conception of commentator Alexandre Lozetti, from SportTV, coach Gabriel Milito’s work at Atlético will have an impact on Dorival Júnior’s call-up list for the Brazilian team, to be released on Friday (10/5). Undefeated under the Argentine’s command, Galo has eight wins and four draws since the “Marechal” arrived in Belo Horizonte.
On the 8th and 12th of June, respectively, Brazil will face Mexico and the United States in friendly matches on North American soil. The squad list will be the same for the Copa América, which will start on June 24th. “And Milito will make an impact on Dorival’s Friday list, huh? I think”, began Lozetti during the program SporTV Selection this Wednesday.
In the commentator’s view, no left-back in Brazilian football is going through a better time than Atlético’s Guilherme Arana. The journalist sees the possibility that the Atlético defender will be called up in the place previously occupied by Ayrton Lucas, from Flamengo.
“Dorival has been called up to the Brazilian National Team. When he was called up, Atlético was playing poorly. The left-backs called up were Wendell, from Porto, and Ayrton Lucas, from Flamengo – who was no longer well. It was no longer a call that I agreed to,” he said.
“In Brazil, today, there is no left-back close to what Arana does. Now, there is a very specific issue with the way he plays. Arana attacks all the time and is a left winger”, he continued.
Is there room for Paulinho in the Brazilian team?
The members of the SporTV Selection They also briefly debated the possibility of striker Paulinho being called up on Dorival Júnior’s list. Last Tuesday (7/5), with a goal in Atlético’s victory over Rosario Central-ARG, the number 10 became the second highest scorer in Galo’s history in the Copa Libertadores.
“Paulinho had already been called up before, by Diniz. It is very difficult to make predictions for this list, because we only use one as a basis. But things have changed significantly since March when you look at some clubs. Before you looked at Ayrton Lucas and Pedro, today you look at Arana and Paulinho”, analyzed Lozetti.
“I think Paulinho’s only problem in the Seleção is Paulinho’s tactical distribution at the moment. It’s not knowing where Paulinho will enter this offensive context”, said Richarlyson, former left-back, who also played for Galo.
Atlético returns to the field next Tuesday (14/5), starting at 7pm, to face Peñarol-URU at the Campeón del Siglo Stadium, in Montevideo, Uruguay. Before that, on Friday (10/5), at 12pm, Dorival Júnior will release the list of the Brazilian National Team’s next commitments at an event held at the headquarters of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), in Rio de Janeiro.
