Arthur & Paqueta: Leaders of a new generation in the Brazil national team
The two midfielders are expected to take the national team to the next level
A new generation of midfielders is breaking out in Brazil. They're characterised by the traditional verdeamarelha style but also by globalisation.
Leading the generation are Barcelona's Arthur Melo and Flamengo's Lucas Paqueta. They're versatile, modern players that are tactically aware and ready for European football. The only thing they lack is adaption time, nothing else.
Arthur is the perfect example, a player that combines Brazilian technique with the associative style deployed by Barça in European football.
Paqueta, meanwhile, has a more attacking profile, is able to glide past players, although aged just 21 he can play in any position in midfield.
THE TIME FACTOR
Another characteristic of this new generation is that they haven't missed any steps of their development. They have fulfilled their time in each age group, with accelerating, to arrive in Europe more mature and better prepared.
Brazil coach Tite has called this generation of players "rhythm-setters" -- players that mark the speed of the game, that dominate space and time.
Both Arthur and Paqueta have shown in Brazil that they're ready for tough atmospheres, too, places where they're under maximum pressure.
The Brça midfielder proved as much while with Gremio, winning the Copa Libertadores, and Paqueta's doing the same with Flamengo now at the Maracana.
This new generation is expected to lead Brazil at the World Cup in Qatar in 2022, although before then they have another objective: the Copa America 2019, which will be played in their homeland.
Arthur and Paqueta both made their Brazil debuts over the weekend and are ready to take over from Fernandino (Manchester City), Paulinho (Guangzhou Evergrande) and Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoan).
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