Paulinho believes his side are in much better shape heading into this year’s World Cup in Russia than they were as the host nation four years ago.
Now 29, Paulinho was part of Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side in 2014 as they were humiliated by Germany in the semi-finals, losing 7-1.
He came off the bench in that match and is one of only four players in Tite’s squad this year in Russia who appeared on that fateful night in Belo Horizonte. Thiago Silva was in the squad but was suspended, while Neymar was injured.
“We have greater confidence. From the way things are going for the Brazil team at the moment, it is clear that confidence is better,” the Barcelona midfielder told reporters on Wednesday at the team’s training base in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi.
“Brazil are better prepared in a number of ways. That is just part of football — in four years you learn a lot of things.”
“What we have done in these last four years is put the past to one side,” he added. “Now we have another opportunity and I want to do better. That is life. Football is good because it gives you other opportunities very quickly.”
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