Casemiro has linked up with the squad, despite being withdrawn during our 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur, and Cunha is also looking to cement a place in Ancelotti’s plans for next year’s major tournament.
During a press conference, our close-season buy from Wolverhampton Wanderers illustrated just how much that would mean to him, after he missed out on a place in the 2022 squad in Qatar.
“That was a negative experience,” he admitted. “A very painful experience but, without a doubt, it made me learn to be stronger today. So, today, I deal with frustrations differently. I deal with achievements differently, so I think I’m much more mature compared to the Matheus of three years ago.
“Even seeing the squad announcement brings a certain anxiety. Since it’s your dream, it’s always very difficult to have a certain peace of mind but I try not to think about it, to be very honest. I try to think about the next step. I’m always very happy and honoured to be called up to the national team, so I only think about the present.
“You know how competitive it is and you know how many good players there are in Brazil. Without a doubt, that affects you and makes you anxious, so it makes you proud when your name comes up on the list.”
