The stat 2 - Number of goals scored and assists made by Paulinho in the South American qualifying tournament in Chile. It’s our first match, so it’s our first final.” It will definitely give us an idea of where we stand in the tournament, and them too. “It’s a match between two heavyweights, two very big teams that are arriving as regional champions. The down side is that the other teams study us more closely and know us better.”
PAULINHO VASCO DA GAMA PLUS
The pros and cons of being one of the favourites “On the plus side, it’s recognition for all the good work that we’ve been putting in over the last two years. At a World Cup, having that level of understanding within the group is important.” “We’ve already played five tournaments together. “We know each other really well,” he underlined. Paulinho was keen to emphasise the importance of the collective, however, and points out that the core of the team has been together since U-15 level. The top scorer and player of the tournament at the South American U-17 Championship, the forward has not been released for the U-17 World Cup by his club side Flamengo. We’re working hard to produce even better football here.”Īlthough "practically unchanged”, the squad has nonetheless been hit by the absence of Vinicius Jr. “We know that we had a great tournament, and that the squad here is practically unchanged, but that’s in the past now,” he added from Kochi, where Brazil will open their tournament against Spain on Saturday. Paulinho emerged as a key component of a Brazil side that put together an almost flawless qualification campaign in Chile, picking up 23 out of a possible 27 points on their way to the regional title. So I can do a job for the team, wherever the coach asks me to play.”įavourite hobby: "Playing video games before matches. “Playing in different positions has added more vision to my game. Hence the versatility,” the attacker calmly explained to. “I’m a striker, but I’ve also played at full-back and in midfield. One moment, he is firing in a thunderbolt from outside the area the next, he can be seen halting a counter-attack, as he wins the ball back on the left flank. One moment, he is bursting past his marker on the right wing to set up a goal the next, he is providing a delicate finish from the centre-forward position. A brief look back at his individual highlights from the South American qualifying tournament is all it takes. The first thing that strikes you about Paulinho, one of the young Brazilians promising to shine at the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017, is his versatility.
He was only 16 when he made his top-flight club debut
He ended the South American U-17 Championship with two goals and two assists He is one of the key players in the Brazil squad at India 2017