Football
ESPN staff 8y

2018 World Cup may come too soon for Brazil - Sebastiao Lazaroni

Brazil's coach at the 1990 World Cup, Sebastiao Lazaroni, says that the current side will struggle in 2018 but could finally come of age in 2022 when their golden generation matures.

Lazaroni, 65, is now in charge of Qatar Sports Club having led Brazil to their first Copa America win in 40 years in 1989, before bowing out in the first knockout stage to Argentina a year later.

The Selecao suffered a heartbreaking exit on home soil in 2014 after being knocked out by eventual winners Germany 7-1 in the semifinals and Lazaroni believes that Russia 2018 may come too soon for them to claim a sixth World Cup trophy.

"Another golden Brazilian generation is emerging with Neymar, Oscar, Lucas Moura, Philippe Coutinho, Willian, Roberto Firmino and Douglas Costa," he told the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) website.

"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."

Neymar has scored 46 goals in only 67 appearances for the Selecao to date and the 23-year-old will be 30 by the time the Qatar World Cup comes along.

"According to statistics, Neymar is better than [Lionel] Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo when they were at a similar age," Lazaroni added. "He will be at the peak of his technical prowess in Russia 2018.

"Players normally start reaching full maturity when they are between 26 and 28. In 2022, Neymar will be 30 and the complete package as a player. While he would still be a force to reckon with technically, he would be more mature than in Russia."

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