How the new Brazil is taking shape and why Cunha is key

Published 1 hour ago The World Cup is taking shape - and I am happy to say the Brazil team is too. It looks like Carlo Ancelotti has found his best XI and we have improved and gained momentum and confidence with each game of the group stage. We are getting better at the right time and we have to be, because Japan will be a big challenge in the last 32. It feels like we are on track, and a big part of that is down to Matheus Cunha. He is the key to a lot of what we are doing so well. It is quite funny to be saying this because usually the Brazil public expects a classic number nine to be leading our attack, and Cunha is different to what the fans are normally looking for. He is more of a nine-and-a-half. Someone who can play like a nine, but also a 10 to link play and create for others. So he is not like Ronaldo, Adriano or Romario, some of our great strikers of the past 30 years, but because he can also score goals - he has three so far at this tournament - he is not a playmaker, either. Instead, he gives the team something that Brazil have maybe never had before, in terms of a centre-forward anyway. To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. This video can not be played Figure caption, Cunha scores twice as Brazil beat Haiti 'Brazil did not know who our best number nine was' In some ways, Cunha reminds me a lot of my old Liverpool team-mate Roberto Firmino in the way he is always dropping deep, and giving the defender marking him a doubt about what to do. If the defender follows him, it gives more space and freedom to Vinicius Jr and Rayan. If the defender leaves Cunha, then he has time to play between the lines, get on the ball and look for passes or shoot. Cunha seems very happy and comfortable with his role, including the defensive side of it when he starts the press or plays almost like a number six in front of the midfield, and it seems to be working for the team in terms of the balance it gives to our attack. Image source, BBC Sport Image caption, Here, Cunha (highlighted by the star) is deep in his own half to help break up a Scotland attack and has just collected the ball from Brazil's right-back Danilo... Image source, BBC Sport Image caption, ...Cunha (highlighted playing the pass, centre) then has space to burst forward to start an attack, carrying the ball into the Scotland half, and with Vinicius Jr and Rayan staying high up the pitch in front of him he has runners to feed and send through on goal It was very strange for Brazil to be going into a World Cup without knowing who our best number nine was. Even until the Scotland game, no-one knew who the first choice centre-forward would be. I don't think Ancelotti knew before the tournament either, because he tried Cunha, Igor Thiago, Endrick, Joao Pedro and Richarlison. Sometimes, though, injuries help a manager make decisions. You can almost stumble on to a combination that works well and this time maybe one has helped Brazil. Raphinha is an amazing player but