Alisson’s absence from the Brazil national team for the past 5 games has been explained

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker has not featured for the Brazilian national team since their World Cup quarter-final exit, and his continued absence has raised eyebrows and prompted speculation about his role within the squad.

Brazil’s failure to progress to the World Cup semi-finals was considered a significant disappointment in South America, especially after their defeat to Croatia in the quarter-finals. Following the tournament, manager Tite stepped down, leading to a staff shakeup that briefly saw Claudio Taffarel, who also coaches at Liverpool, leave and then return.

Since the World Cup, six players from the squad, including Liverpool’s Fabinho, have not been called up for national team duty. While Alisson remains part of the Brazilian squad under interim manager Fernando Diniz, the 30-year-old goalkeeper has not played a single minute in the five games since the World Cup.

Alisson was even left out of the squad entirely for a friendly match against Morocco in March. In subsequent matches against Guinea and Senegal, he watched from the bench as an unused substitute. Similarly, in recent games against Bolivia and Peru, Alisson once again warmed the bench while his fellow goalkeeper Ederson started both matches.

Diniz addressed the situation during a recent press conference, acknowledging the difficulty of choosing between Alisson and Ederson. He stated, “I think both are among the three best goalkeepers in the world, so it’s always hard for you to make an assessment and decide. Any time, any of them can play…specifically, of these two, they have been playing at a very high level for a long time.”

The fact that Ederson is consistently preferred over Alisson for the starting goalkeeper role in the Brazilian national team raises questions, especially considering that Alisson has consistently outperformed Ederson at the club level with Liverpool.

While Liverpool will undoubtedly be relieved if Alisson returns from international duty unscathed, concerns have been raised about the value of his trips to South America if he is not given playing time. The situation highlights the unique position of Brazil, boasting two of the world’s most high-profile goalkeepers who play for two of the biggest clubs in the Premier League.

Ultimately, the decision regarding the starting goalkeeper for Brazil remains in the hands of the manager, and the ongoing competition between Alisson and Ederson is likely to keep the debate alive.