Brazil's sashaying superstars have promised to keep dancing despite being labelled “disrespectful” by arch-misery Roy Keane.
And the five-times world champions have at least TEN different post-goal routines prepared as they head into Friday’s quarter-final showdown with Croatia.
Manager Tite has given Neymar, Richarlison and their team-mates the green light to carry on jigging even though their choreographed celebrations during the first half demolition of South Korea caused consternation in some quarters. Keane said: “I don't like this. People say it's their culture. But I think that's really disrespecting the opposition.
'It's four goals, and they are doing it every time. I don't mind so much the first jig, it's the one after that, and the manager getting involved. I’m not happy about it. I don’t think it is good at all. I can't believe what I'm watching, it's like watching Strictly.”
But Tite - who joined in one of the dances - said: “They are very young and have a love of dancing, joking and making moves.
"There's no interpretation other than happiness at the goal, happiness for the team, happiness for the performance. There was no disrespect for the opposition nor towards [South Korea coach] Paulo Bento for whom I have a lot of respect.”
Tite revealed Richarlison has taught him the moves to the Spurs striker’s pigeon dance. Richarlison has even given lessons to Brazilian legend Ronaldo, in Qatar as a FIFA ambassador, who has been seen dancing along with the current golden generation of players.
And it is clear Richarlison and the rest of the Samba squad have plenty more moves in their repertoire should they go all the way to the final on Sunday week. On the eve of the tournament, Raphinha said their pre-planned routines were in double figures.
“To tell you the truth,” laughed the Barcelona attacker, “we already have dances prepared for up to the tenth goal. We have some 10 dances prepared for each match - one of the first, one for the second, one for the third … if we score more than ten, then we’ll have to start innovating.”
Tite, 61, obviously has no intention of keeping a lid on the Brazilian celebrations which delighted the 44,000-crowd at the 974 Stadium on Monday night.
He has even got to grips with Richarlison’s pigeon dance, explaining: “They said I had to learn how to do the moves. They are very tight and difficult but we kept playing around. Richarlison was there and I said: ‘What’s that dance? If you do it, then I will do it.’”
While Richarlison appears to be one of the main orchestrators of the controversial dance routines, he also showed his serious side with a special message to Tottenham team-mate Son Heung-min after South Korea were eliminated.
Richarlison tweeted: “I know how hard you fought to be here and that's why you're a hero to your people @Sonny7!”
