InterviewFabinho on World Cup: From fan to ambition with Brazil

Liverpool’s No.3 is part of the Selecao squad for the tournament in Qatar and is eagerly anticipating the feeling of representing his nation on the biggest stage of all.

“This is my biggest dream, to play in a World Cup with my national team. I always dreamed about playing in a World Cup with Brazil,” Fabinho said.

“In the other World Cups I was a fan, I was looking from the outside, so to have this experience and be there with Brazil in Qatar and be in the games with these emotions would be really special… and I hope we will win the World Cup because with the talent we have and with the team we have and with the players we have, I think we are one of the strongest teams.

“For me personally, France are the favourites and England have one of the strongest teams as well, but to go there and try to win the trophy would be special.”

Fabinho is one of 10 Premier League players in Brazil’s World Cup party, with his clubmate Alisson Becker also among that number, and he believes this to be proof of the strength of the English top flight.

The midfielder continued: “I think it is always good when another Brazilian player comes to the Premier League because it is the best competition in the world. It means you are playing the best football in the world so it is good for you, for your confidence and to keep growing and learning.

“In my case it was like this. I have had five seasons in the Premier League and now I am a better player and a more experienced player as well.

“The Premier League has been really important for me so hopefully it will be important for other Brazilian players as well, but it doesn’t matter if we have 10 players from the Premier League or other competitions.

“We are a very strong team, we are used to playing together and this will be the second World Cup with our coach [Tite] and his staff so this is really important.

“The team is better because we have had more time together and the atmosphere is really good so we want to go there and really enjoy playing in the biggest competition in the world.

“We will try to do what we have been doing right in the last four years because we want to be Brazilian legends and win the World Cup.”

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