World Cup Selection Dilemma: Brazil's lack of quality right-backs beyond Alves

There were fears that Dani Alves would miss the World Cup after he limped off with a knee injury in PSG’s Coupe de France success on Tuesday night. While those have been allayed, to some extent, now Brazil must play the waiting game as they find out the full extent of the problem. Alves will be assessed again in three weeks’ time with a view to determining his fitness for Russia 2018. 

His availability is crucial, of that there is no doubt. Even at 35 years of age, Alves is one of the best right-backs on the continent and for him to miss the World Cup would be a blow for the Selecao in more ways than one. Not only is Alves Tite’s first choice right-back, but options beyond the trophy-laden defender are thin on the ground. 

Tite has ample options at left-back, yet on the opposite flank, Alves is the sole standout star. If Brazil’s worst fears are realised, then the head coach will need to rethink his strategy in order to maximise the personnel at his disposal. Corinthians defender Fagner was recently included in the Brazil squad to face Russia and Germany back in March, yet the 28-year-old lacks the requisite international experience to sufficiently replace Alves, if he misses out. 

Fagner, though, will come into the World Cup fresh following the off-season break in Brazil and will be up to speed, fitness wise, once Russia 2018 commences having already made seven competitive club appearances this term. Tite may even elect to use PSG’s Marquinhos in the role given his previous in playing at right-back. However, this would be a waste of the 23-year-old’s talents, with Marquinhos blossoming into one of Europe’s finest centre-backs.  

Beyond the duo, it doesn’t make for great reading for Brazil. Danilo and Rafinha both play for two of Europe’s most recognisible teams, in Manchester City and Bayern Munich, yet the former hasn’t featured since November and the latter since last June, and even then; the 32-year-old has just four international caps to his name. 

Fernandinho has operated as a right-back in the past, yet by deploying him in defence, Tite would be robbed of a key man in his midfield. Fabinho is another who has previously played at right-back before moving to midfield, while Rafael is another option. However, the Lyon man has only been capped for the Brazil national team twice, and that was back in 2012. It’s unlikely that Tite will turn to the 27-year-old this summer.

For the time being, Alves’ recovery remains the priority. There is no need for Brazil to panic just yet, but the countdown is very much on for the experienced defender to recovery sufficiently in time for Russia 2018. The worst case scenario would see Alves miss out at this summer’s World Cup and with a little over a month before the first match of the tournament, the race is on to prove his fitness. Given Tite’s lack of quality right-back options beyond Alves, though, the Brazil head coach will give the PSG star every opportunity to prove his fitness.