Brazil have 'turned the page': Coach Tite

Brazil have "turned the page" after their humiliating 1-7 World Cup semi-final loss to Germany on home soil in 2014, according to national coach Tite.

They have won each of their six matches under Tite, who replaced Dunga after the team's group stage elimination at the Copa America in June, reports Xinhua.

"Turn the page is an expression that describes it well," the 55-year-old former Corinthians coach said on Monday.

"We are starting a new chapter with the team in which we are qualifying for the World Cup and consolidating the team with a game plan that is efficient and beautiful."

Tite began his tenure with Brazil occupying sixth place in the South American zone qualifying standings for the 2018 World Cup.

Such was their fragile form that there were fears the team could fail to qualify for the tournament in Russia.

They are now four points clear at the top of the group and a win against Uruguay in Montevideo in their next match in March would guarantee their place in football's showpiece event.

"We are well on the way to qualifying, there is only a little way to go," Tite said. "But we aren't going to drop our guard to achieve our goal of qualifying."

Brazil's improvement has been underpinned by an attacking style of play that harks back to the country's flamboyant World Cup-winning teams of 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002.

The change has been due in part to the influence of teenage striker Gabriel Jesus, who has scored five goals in his first six internationals.

Others to flourish under the guidance of Tite are Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho, and China-based midfield duo Paulinho and Renato Augusto.

"There have been some important changes, but the technical quality of the players is what is most important," Tite said.

"No coach in the world will produce results without technical quality".

--IANS

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