Luiz and Silva start v Croatia - but Brazil ignore best centre-back
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World Cup 2014: Have Brazil scored an own goal by not selecting their best centre-back for tournament
Brazil may be among the favourites for this summers World Cup but they might have scored an own goal by not selecting their best centre-back in their 23-man squad.
The hosts kick off the tournament tonight in Sao Paulo against Croatia and boss Luis Felipe Scolari has selected pairing David Luiz and Thiago Silva at the back, but its lesser-known Eric Botteghin who should be in the starting lne-up.
The FC Groningen man hasnt even made Scolaris squad, but he appears to be the stand-out option according to the statistics.
The 26-year-old has a higher tackles won percentage at 82 per cent than Silva (74 per cent) and Luiz (55 per cent), while he has made more clearances and interceptions than any other Brazilian centre-back.
With the likes of Neymar, Fred, Oscar and Hulk going forward however, the defensive mishap may not be too costly.
Brazil: Cesar; D.Alves, T.Silva, D.Luiz, Marcelo; Paulinho, L.Gustavo; Hulk, Oscar, Neymar; Fred.
Croatia: Pletikosa; Srna, Ćorluka, Lovren, Vrsaljko; Modrić, Rakitić, Perišić, Brozović; Olić, Jelavić
Brazil may be among the favourites for this summers World Cup but they might have scored an own goal by not selecting their best centre-back in their 23-man squad.
The hosts kick off the tournament tonight in Sao Paulo against Croatia and boss Luis Felipe Scolari has selected pairing David Luiz and Thiago Silva at the back, but its lesser-known Eric Botteghin who should be in the starting lne-up.
The FC Groningen man hasnt even made Scolaris squad, but he appears to be the stand-out option according to the statistics.
The 26-year-old has a higher tackles won percentage at 82 per cent than Silva (74 per cent) and Luiz (55 per cent), while he has made more clearances and interceptions than any other Brazilian centre-back.
With the likes of Neymar, Fred, Oscar and Hulk going forward however, the defensive mishap may not be too costly.
Brazil: Cesar; D.Alves, T.Silva, D.Luiz, Marcelo; Paulinho, L.Gustavo; Hulk, Oscar, Neymar; Fred.
Croatia: Pletikosa; Srna, Ćorluka, Lovren, Vrsaljko; Modrić, Rakitić, Perišić, Brozović; Olić, Jelavić
