Under-20s face Paraguay this Saturday (28), Paulo Victor in charge
· Yahoo Sports
Brazil’s Under-20 National Team faces Paraguay this Saturday (28) in the first of two friendlies that begin preparations for the category’s major competitions in 2027. This will be the first match under Paulo Victor, who has also taken charge of the Under-23 National Team. The game will be played at Martins Pereira Stadium in São José dos Campos at 7 p.m., with expectations of a full house. SporTV will broadcast it live.
Paulo Victor’s first Under-20 squad combines players born in 2007 and 2008. The coach opted for a core group that already has experience wearing the Brazil shirt in competitions.
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The Under-20 National Team had five intense days of preparation for the first friendly of this new cycleCredits: Staff Images / CBF
There are holdovers from last year’s Under-20 World Cup, such as center back João Souza and forward Erick Belé; and from the Under-17 World Cup, such as goalkeeper João Pedro, center backs Vitor Fernandes and Vitão, midfielders Zé Lucas and Tiago, and forward Gabriel Mec. Up front, players like Isaque and Luca Meirelles also bring the experience of having already faced, and beaten, Paraguay, the opponent in these first matches.
There were five days of preparation for the first challenge. Since Monday (23), at CT Joaquim Grava, the group has trained under the watchful eye of the new coach. Paulo Victor set aside the first two days to observe the players’ behavior on the field and introduce the concepts he wants to see in the match. From then on, he moved on to refining attacking and defensive patterns.
Paulo Victor and assistant coach Lucas Andrade: friendlies against Paraguay already mark the start of preparations for the major competitions in 2027Credits: Staff Images / CBF
“We allowed ourselves, in two sessions, to observe them closely. Then we used Wednesday, Thursday and Friday’s sessions to work on the initial attacking and defensive patterns. I believe we were able to give the team an identity, so that we can play good matches from a tactical standpoint and begin this journey in pursuit of our goal, which is the most important thing: how we will arrive in January next year for the South American Championship. That is why we started the work early,” he said.
Paulo Victor’s arrival to Brazil’s Under-20 and Under-23 national teams is aimed at putting the Canarinho back on the path to major achievements in these categories. Before the continental competition, the coach will have four more training periods to further shape the team, implementing the identity he is seeking: the essence of Brazilian football.
The group worked on concepts throughout the week in search of the Brazilian National Team’s “identity”Credits: Staff Images / CBF
“I tried to show them what the purpose of being here is, the importance of having a strong identity within the Brazilian National Team. To recover standards that define what our National Team is. That was very much the direction I tried to take in building the first week, building a very strong mentality, a sense of serving and representing the Brazilian National Team, feeling this shirt and this moment in a different way. I think that comes at the top of the pyramid so that everything else can happen with the naturalness we want,” he stated.
There are other factors that make Paulo Victor’s Under-20 debut special: the promise of a full house in São José dos Campos and the fact that Martins Pereira Stadium was the stage for his first title as a coach.
“It is very important for the boys to experience this and feel the importance of the Brazilian National Team. Playing in front of a crowd is different. I would also like to thank our president Samir Xaud and the entire CBF board for the effort and the conditions they are providing for the Brazil Under-20 National Team. By restoring this connection between the fans and the youth national team, Brazilian football is the one that benefits,” he concluded.
match info:
Lineup:
BRAZIL: João Pedro; Igor Felisberto, João Souza, João Ananias, Kauã Prates; Zé Lucas, Djhordney, Erick Belé; Bruninho, Isaque and Luca Meirelles.
Coach: Paulo Victor.
Brazil vs. Paraguay – Brazil Under-20 National Team
Date: Saturday (28)
Time: 7 p.m.
Venue: Martins Pereira Stadium, São José dos Campos (SP)
Broadcast: SporTV
Tickets:
Stands – R$ 40 (full price) and R$ 20 (half-price, social ticket and as provided by law)
Gates open: 5 p.m.
Officials:
Referee: Flavio Rodrigues de Souza (FIFA-SP)
Assistant 1: Danilo Ricardo Simon Manis (FIFA-SP)
Assistant 2: Fabrini Bevilaqua Costa (FIFA-SP)
4th official: Edina Alves Batista (FIFA-SP)
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.