Paulinho leading Brazil revival in remarkable turnaround from his flop at Tottenham
Midfielder netted a hat-trick to ruin Uruguay’s 100 per cent home record in World Cup qualifying
REMEMBER Paulinho, the £17million Tottenham flop?
He was a disaster at White Hart Lane, after joining from Corinthians four years ago, but is enjoying a renaissance.
The midfielder, 28, was Brazil’s hat-trick hero as they ruined Uruguay’s 100 per cent home record in World Cup qualifying with a staggering 4-1 win.
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New coach Tite has made few changes from the squad he inherited from Dunga.
But one change has been the recall of Paulinho, now in China with Guangzhou Evergrande. They worked together at Corinthians, winning domestic, continental and world titles.
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Tite is a huge Paulinho fan, valuing the versatility on show last November, when the midfielder gave a man-of-the-match display in Brazil’s 3-0 win over Argentina.
And his performance in this South American World Cup qualifier did much to ensure that Brazil can start preparing for the finals in Russia next year.
Brazil fell behind to an early Edinson Cavani strike. But they started passing and moving with a fluidity to delight the purists, and hit back to chalk up their seventh consecutive win under Tite.
Five stars to watch
YERRY MINA (Palmeiras & Colombia)
TOWERING centre-back who is commanding in the air in both penalty areas — he rattled the Bolivian bar with a header on Thursday — and is quick over the ground.
ALISSON
(Roma & Brazil)
BRAZIL’S first-choice keeper since the second round.
His lack of game time with his club is a concern, especially with the emergence of Ederson at Benfica but he has not let his country down.
MIGUEL ALMIRON
Atlanta Utd & Paraguay
SLEEK, left-footed attacking midfielder with a frightening turn of pace.
Was outstanding for Lanus in Argentina and has made an exciting start to his MLS career.
Paraguay’s great hope.
DIEGO ROLAN
(Bordeaux & Uruguay)
TRICKY and versatile figure who can operate as a support striker or out wide on either flank.
One of Uruguay’s successful graduates from the U-20 ranks, who has established himself as a useful member of the senior squad.
JEFFERSON OREJUELA
(Fluminense & Ecuador)
CENTRAL midfielder whose dynamism knits the side together, passing and moving across the full range of the pitch. Part of the Independiente del Valle side who last year were surprise finalists in the Copa Libertadores.
Neymar ran the show, cutting in from the left. Philippe Coutinho on the other flank was full of inventive passes, and linked up well with Liverpool team-mate Roberto Firmino for the second goal.
Brazil took full advantage of the lack of pace of one-time Liverpool centre-back Sebastian Coates, and it was Paulinho’s three goals that were the difference.
His capacity to time his run into the box was in evidence in his second and third goals.
The first was a long-range shot that flew into the top corner. It was only bettered by the sublime chip with which Neymar beat the keeper after chasing a punt behind Coates.
This result answered the one question mark that had been hanging over Tite’s Brazil.
In their previous six wins they had never been behind, so it remained to be seen how a group with a history of petulance would react to giving up the first goal.
That doubt has been removed and Brazil — and Paulinho — can look forward to Russia.