Football
ESPN staff 6y

Brazil boss Tite to focus on Brazil, not potential World Cup matchups

Brazil manager Tite said he won't focus on scenarios he can't control after Friday's World Cup draw in Moscow.

The five-time world champions were placed in Group E with Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia -- a trio of adversaries that don't appear too daunting on paper -- but would likely face Mexico or even Germany in the round of 16, depending on how the groups play out. 

Faced with that prospect, Tite, however, promised his attention will be dedicated to helping Brazil improve, and not on any potential matchups.

"I've said this. I haven't returned with a standard answer. But a conviction: The Brazilian team will come together and grow. Independently of qualification of their adversaries and their characteristics," Tite said after the draw.

Tite cited the unpredictability of the World Cup, where Switzerland defeated eventual champion Spain in the group stage opener back in 2010, and high-profile teams such as Italy and the Netherlands have been left out of the 2018 edition in Russia.

"You see how a characteristics of a World Cup are interesting. You have a result against a team that was eventually champion. And then we go back to a World Cup where the third-highest champion behind us is out [Italy]," Tite said.

"We go back to where third place [in the 2014 World Cup], the Netherlands, is out. We go back to Chile, two-time Copa America champions, are out. The United Stated, with their investment, are out.

"This is to say: The preparation has to be total in its fullness with all the opponents, independently of who it is."

Pressed about potential round-of-16 matchups, Tite again avoided the question, saying: "The greatness of the competition... Again, I say: There are variables the we don't have conditions to control. 

"Let me spend my energy on the variables that I can control and those things I can do. What are they? Quality training sessions, logistics that allow the players to evolve.

"It's an important degree of confidence. The strengthening and growing of the team. These variables I can control. The others are circumstances of the competition."

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