Football
ESPN staff 7y

Tite after Colombia draw: 'If there was a winner, it would be Brazil'

Brazil manager Tite was pleased with his team's performance in Tuesday's 1-1 draw against Colombia, despite seeing their streak of nine straight wins in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying come to an end.

Willian's sensational goal just before half-time was cancelled out by a Radamel Falcao header minutes after the break that saw the hosts claim a share of the points on a hot afternoon in Baranquilla.

Brazil beat Ecuador 2-0 in an uneven performance in Porto Alegre last week, and Tite, who had led the Selecao to wins in all nine of his previous qualifiers, told reporters he was happier with his side's display against Colombia.

"I was more pleased with the consistency of this game than the last against Ecuador," Tite said. "Today we maintained a standard of performance that gives consistency to the team. The resulting draw was just. But if there was a winner, it would be Brazil because of the chances created. 

"I want to re-emphasise the great game technically. You have to stop with this story of fighting, of provocation. It's a football game, a great spectacle that we saw today."

Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho -- still trying to regain fitness after a back injury -- came on for the final 15 minutes against Colombia. He replaced Renato Augusto in central midfield instead of assuming his normal place further up the field on the right.

Asked if he could see Coutinho starting for Brazil in midfield when fully fit, Tite added: "I asked this question to [assistant coaches] Cleber Xavier and Sylvinho. It's one thing to enter against Ecuador, under medium-to-low pressure. It's another to evaluate against a team that attacks, that has strong consistency and plays at home.

"The field could have been better to help the spectacle. But my team showed they could maintain consistency. He could have kept Renato on and taken off Paulinho, but he wanted to maintain his support on the right because of Dani Alves' card. I have these options, these weapons, these cannons, and I can't stop using them."

Willian's goal -- a wonderful, first-time hit from a Neymar layoff from outside the box -- left Colombia keeper David Ospina no chance as it rose into the top corner. 

The Chelsea midfielder hailed the strike after the match, saying: "I think this was the most beautiful goal I've scored for the national team. I was fortunate to hit the ball well and score the goal.

"To play here is difficult. We wanted a victory, but the team played well."

The match, played in the later afternoon, required the teams to take water breaks midway through each half because of the sweltering heat at the Metropolitano Roberto Melendez stadium.

Asked about the conditions, Willian added: "It's been a while since I've played at this time in a hot place like Colombia.

"We play in Europe at this time, but it's very different. It's very hot here. In Europe it gets cold, and more calm. We created some chances, but it's difficult to play here, a difficult pitch, the field is dry, the ball bounced a lot.

"But for the fight and for the effort, we are happy."

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