The impression given by watching the bulky and immobile Fred awkwardly lumbering about the pitch during Brazil’s failed attempt at lifting the World Cup on home soil four years ago was that there was little place for a traditional, reference-point striker in the modern game.
The template for the ideal central striker has since moved even further away from that model towards the type of agile, mobile and skilled forward of which Brazil have two excellent examples in the form of Gabriel Jesus of Manchester City and Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino.
Both of them will go to this summer’s World Cup in Russia, but head coach Tite nevertheless seems unwilling to completely do away with a classic number nine. In theory, 17 or 18 of the places in Brazil’s 23-man squad are set. But that role is one of those that remain open.
For much of his time in charge, Tite’s preferred option has been Diego Souza, a sturdy, converted attacking midfielder. But now, just three months out from the World Cup, he has decided to call up the previously uncapped Willian Jose for this week’s friendlies against Russia and Germany.
The reaction in Brazil was one of surprise, bordering on incredulity. Willian Jose is not a total unknown. He was part of the Brazil squad who won the Under-20 World Cup in 2011 and scored the opener in the quarter-final win over Spain. But he is best remembered in his homeland for his largely uninspiring spells at Sao Paulo, Gremio and Santos.
The decision to call on the Porto Calvo native was more easily comprehended in Spain, where he has impressed since joining Real Sociedad two summers ago. Strong in his hold-up play and a consistent threat in the air - over the last two seasons, no one in La Liga has scored more headed goals than his total of 12 - he is the focal point of their attack.
It has been a slow road to prominence. He first moved to Spain to join Real Madrid’s B side in 2014 and made one, brief, appearance for the first team before they decided to let him go. From there, he has built himself back up, steadily developing year on year.
The 26-year-old has improved his minutes-per-goal rate in each of the last four seasons, from a goal every 220 minutes at Real Zaragoza in the 2014-15 season to one every 158 minutes for Real Sociedad during the current campaign. He has scored 18 times in all competitions. His goal in La Real’s 2-1 defeat to Getafe on Saturday was his second since returning from injury at the start of the month, and his sixth in his last seven matches.
Things have not gone as planned for the club this season - the sacking of coach Eusebio Sacristan on Sunday attests to that - but Willian Jose has been standout performer in a side who seek to move the ball forward in a similarly structured way to Brazil, albeit with a greater focus on crosses as a means of entering the penalty area.
And despite the doubters, the striker is determined to make the most of this week.
“People can say what they want,” he said upon arriving in Russia to join up with the squad. “Many of them haven’t seen me play. It isn’t easy to score 18 goals in 31 matches in a mid-table team in Spain. People criticise me for what I did or didn’t do five years ago but things change, for the better in my case.
“I have a huge opportunity to go to the World Cup. This is the chance of a lifetime. I will give everything to make good on it.”
