Alisson Becker has a fight on his hands to keep his place in Brazil’s team.
He’s Liverpool’s undisputed No.1 goalkeeper. Yet Alisson Becker may not be first choice for Brazil as they prepare to achieve Copa America glory.
The 31-year-old is hoping to win the South American crown for a second time, having been a regular starter when the Selecao hoisted the trophy aloft five years ago.
And with Manchester City’s Ederson not included in Brazil’s squad because of injury, it seemed that Alisson would be a shoo-in to be between the posts.
However, ESPN Brasil reports that will not be the case. The Reds stopper endured an injury-hit 2023-24 season, missing two months with a hamstring issue. He was absent for Brazil’s fixtures against England and Spain in March, with Athletico Paranaense’s Bento winning his first two caps and impressing.
And it is suggested that Bento is firmly rivalling Alisson to be top of the pecking order heading into the Copa America that takes place in the USA. Alisson started in Sunday’s 3-2 win over Mexico last Sunday but Bento is set to get the gloves for tonight’s final warm-up friendly against the USA. ESPN reports that ‘some doubts’ around Brazil’s team remain, including in goal.
Manager Dorival Junior said: “I think we have great goalkeepers, a position in which we are very well served. In the absence of Ederson and Alisson, in the previous call-up Bento gave a great response. I was very pleased with what I also saw from Rafael and Léo (Jardim) . Now a new call-up in which Alisson wears the shirt again. Regardless of the athletes’ longevity and respect, the disputes are and will always be open.”
Former one-cap Brazil international Fábio Luciano has claimed that Alisson does not make enough ‘impossible saves’ for Brazil and the country need to start planning for the 2026 World Cup.
He said: “Alisson is very competent, his history shows, he plays for one of the biggest clubs in the world, he is considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world. I just think that throughout his time with the national team, he made few impossible saves.
“He doesn’t save the game. He doesn’t make an absurd mistake, but he doesn’t make an impossible save. Some decisions, a national team goalkeeper has to have a different perspective from the club. He has two World Cups , he is highly charged for that, from to ball that goes into the goal and goes in.
“Was it his fault? Maybe it wasn’t. With all due respect, for me it would be another name (in the next World Cup), there were two World Cups and they didn’t win. Bento is on a path, so is Ederson.”
