Miranda was called up to defend the Brazilian national team in the World Cup qualifiers, on the next 2, 5 and 9 September, after more than two years without wearing the Amarelinha. At 36, the defender would introduce himself to Tite coming from a tough marathon of games and prove that age, at least for now, was just a number.
Miranda has been present in Sao Paulo’s last 11 matches this season. The defender, in fact, was only substituted in one of these matches, against Vasco, in the Copa del Rey Round of 16. The experienced defender was chosen by coach Hernan Crespo to be one of the pillars of his defense, and he is one of the few defenders to have a permanent seat in the tricolor team.
Precisely because of Miranda’s long marathon matches, the coaching staff in Sao Paulo planned to take a break for the defender and other players on the team, as the team would not be on the field for 14 days. But the defender’s invitation to the Brazilian team ended with the cancellation of the intentions of Crespo and his assistants.
Miranda has played 27 games for Sao Paulo and one goal this season. The defender was hired at the start of the year to bolster Hernan Crespo’s defense and, a few months after his return, he had already won the Campeonato Paulista Cup, a trophy Tricolor hadn’t lifted since 2005.
São Paulo captain, Miranda quickly fell in favor of the crowd and became unanimous in the sporting debates for his coolness with the ball at his feet, the right boats, sense of centeredness and leadership.
Even returning to Brazilian football after spending time in China, where the match is not played with the same intensity, Miranda had no difficulties adjusting and was frequently used by Hernán Crespo, without being accused of being worn out. His number of matches with Tricolor is no greater as he suffered a strain in his left thigh in June.
In the Brazilian national team, Miranda will be a replacement for Thiago Silva, who ended up being cut off due to the announcement by English clubs that they would not release their national players from countries that are part of the UK’s “red list” in relation to covid-19. Since Brazil is on this list, the defender who plays for Chelsea will have to stay in London.
The Copa America 2019 was the last time Miranda defended the Brazilian national team. Defender was Thiago Silva’s reserve in the tournament, but played in the semi-final against Argentina. Since then, Tite has given chances to new names, and think long-term, even though the Sao Paulo defender has been behaving at a high level.
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