Fourth Fifa Under 17 World Cup title and Olympic spot on Brazil’s mind

Alexandre Gallo, the Brazil Under 17 manager, hails the team's maturity and expects a high proportion of the party he has brought to the UAE to thrive as professionals, writes Ian Hawkey.

Alexandre Gallo, the Brazil Under 17 manager, coached Al Ain in 2010-11. Rich-Joseph Facun / The National

Any prize that eludes a Brazil national team for a decade is considered long overdue. Any trophy that they have failed to win at all is considered a scandalous oversight.

So for the Brazilians preparing to kick off the 15th Under 17 World Cup on Thursday, two enticing targets are dangled.

First, to establish their country as the dominant force at this level, by adding a record fourth under-17 crown to the three they walked away with in 1997, 1999 and 2003.

Second, to establish a place in the Olympic squad – principally formed of players under 23 – that competes in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, seeking a first men’s football gold medal in the Games.

Alexandre Gallo, the U17 manager, hails their maturity and expects a high proportion of the party he has brought to the UAE to thrive as professionals.

“This is a first step,” Gallo said in Brazil before the team left.

“In countries like ours, the process starts earlier and earlier. In effect, you are now judging players at under-17 in the same way, a few years ago, the U20s were being assessed.”

For many, there is already impatience to embark on careers in Europe.

The midfielder Danilo is expected to join Portuguese club Braga once he turns 18, while defender Lucas Silva, nicknamed Lucao, is establishing himself in the Sao Paulo first team already. Gallo expects potency in attack, too, from the likes of Kenedy, Gabriel and Mosquito.

Brazil’s status as favourites presents challenges, the coach acknowledges.

“Every opponent comes out wanting to play the game of their lives against Brazil,” he said.

“Any Brazil team has to approach any fixture with the intention of winning it. This is a serious group of players, who know each other well and we’re very positive.”

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