Under-20 face Paraguay this Saturday (28), Paulo Victor in charge | OneFootball

Brazil’s Under-20 National Team will face Paraguay this Saturday (28) in the first of two friendlies that mark the start of preparations for the category’s major competitions in 2027. It will be the first match under Paulo Victor, who has also taken charge of the Under-23 National Team. The game will be played at Martins Pereira Stadium in São José dos Campos at 7 p.m., with expectations of a full house. SporTV will broadcast it live.

Paulo Victor’s first Under-20 squad combines players born in 2007 and 2008. The coach has relied on a core group that already has experience wearing the Brazil shirt in competitions.

The Under-20 National Team had five intense days of preparation for the first friendly of this new cycleCredits: Staff Images / CBF

There are holdovers from last year’s Under-20 World Cup, such as center-back João Souza and forward Erick Belé, as well as players from the Under-17 World Cup, including goalkeeper João Pedro, center-backs Vitor Fernandes and Vitão, midfielders Zé Lucas and Tiago, and forward Gabriel Mec. Up front, players such as Isaque and Luca Meirelles also bring the experience of having already faced, and beaten, Paraguay, the opponent in these opening matches.

There were five days of preparation for the first challenge. Since Monday (23), at CT Joaquim Grava, the group has been training under the eyes of the new coach. Paulo Victor set aside the first two days to observe the players’ behavior on the field and introduce the concepts he wants to see in the match. From then on, he focused on refining attacking and defensive patterns.

Paulo Victor and assistant coach Lucas Andrade: friendlies against Paraguay already begin preparations for the major competitions in 2027Credits: Staff Images / CBF

“We allowed ourselves, over two sessions, to observe them closely. Then we used the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday sessions to work on the initial attacking and defensive patterns. I believe we were able to give the team an identity so that we can play good matches from a tactical standpoint and begin this journey in pursuit of our goal, which is the most important thing: how we will arrive in January next year for the South American Championship. That is why we started the work early,” he said.

Paulo Victor’s arrival at Brazil’s Under-20 and Under-23 national teams aims to put the Canarinho back on the path to major achievements in these categories. Until the continental competition, the coach will have four more training periods to further shape the team, implementing the identity he is seeking: the essence of Brazilian football.

The group worked on concepts during the week in search of the Brazilian National Team’s “identity”Credits: Staff Images / CBF

“I tried to show them what the purpose of being here is, the importance of having a strong identity within the Brazilian National Team. To recover standards that define what our National Team is. That was very much the direction I tried to take in building this first week, building a very strong mindset, a sense of serving and representing the Brazilian National Team, feeling this shirt and this moment in a different way. I think that comes at the top of the pyramid so that everything else can happen with the naturalness we want,” he said.

There are other elements that make Paulo Victor’s Under-20 debut special: the promise of a full crowd in São José dos Campos and the fact that Martins Pereira Stadium was the venue of his first title as a coach.

“It is very important for the boys to experience this and feel the importance of the Brazilian National Team. Playing with a crowd is different. I also want to thank our president Samir Xaud and the entire CBF board for the effort and the conditions they are providing for the Brazil Under-20 National Team. By restoring this connection between the fans and the youth national team, Brazilian football is the real winner,” he concluded.

match information:

Brazil vs. Paraguay – Brazil Under-20 National Team

Date: Saturday (28)

Time: 7 p.m.

Venue: Martins Pereira Stadium, São José dos Campos (SP)

Broadcast: SporTV

Tickets:

Stands – R$ 40 (full price) and R$ 20 (half-price, social ticket and as provided by law)

Gates open: 5 p.m.

Officials:

Referee: Flavio Rodrigues de Souza (FIFA-SP)

Assistant 1: Danilo Ricardo Simon Manis (FIFA-SP)

Assistant 2: Fabrini Bevilaqua Costa (FIFA-SP)

4th official: Edina Alves Batista (FIFA-SP)

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.