Samba-style China bank on Brazilians in World Cup push

Fernando skips down the wing and crosses for Ricardo Goulart, who tees up Elkeson to smash the ball into the top corner.

Alan and Aloisio join in some Samba-style celebrations as a goal made in Brazil propels China to the 2022 World Cup.

It is the stuff of make-believe, but the world's most populous nation will soon be able to field a team with a distinctly Brazilian flavour.

Despite making Elkeson the first Brazilian-born player to represent their national team last year, China's hopes of reaching only a second World Cup hang in the balance after a lacklustre qualifying campaign so far.

However, naturalised forwards Elkeson and Aloisio are both in coach Li Tie's current squad while Goulart, Alan and Fernando are reportedly close to call-ups having finalised or nearly finalised the paperwork to play for China.

All five were born in Brazil, are offensive players and, according to transfermarkt.com, are contracted to Fabio Cannavaro's Chinese Super League (CSL) champions Guangzhou Evergrande.

Another Evergrande player, the former England youth defender Tyias Browning, could also represent China this year.

It accelerates a strategy, started under ex-coach Marcello Lippi, to bring in naturalised players to bolster a squad that remains thin on talent.

"Since 2019, Guangzhou Evergrande has helped (these) six players... get their Chinese ID cards and their household registration in Guangzhou," the state-run Guangzhou Daily said.

"At the same time, Guangzhou Evergrande and the Chinese Football Association have been actively promoting these naturalised players to qualify for the Chinese men's national football team."
- World Cup dreams - ====================
- 'Sense of belonging to China' - =================================