The Selecao were expected to win the Hexacampeao – their sixth World Cup title – on home soil four years ago.
You may remember seven reasons why that didn’t quite go to plan. But the demons of Belo Horizonte have been exorcized, and Brazil was the only South American team to cruise through qualification.
Basics
World Cup appearance: 21st
Best World Cup finish: Champion [1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002]
2014 finish: Lost in the semifinals to Germany
Qualifying: Finished first in South America
Schedule: Switzerland [Sunday, June 17], Costa Rica [Friday, June 22], Serbia [Wednesday, June 27]
Full squad
GOALKEEPERS: Alisson (Roma), Ederson (Manchester City), Cassio (Corinthians).
DEFENDERS: Danilo (Manchester City), Fagner (Corinthians), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Silva, Marquinhos (both PSG), Miranda (Inter Milan), Pedro Geromel (Gremio).
MIDFIELDERS: Casemiro (Real Madrid), Fernandinho (Manchester City), Paulinho (Barcelona), Fred (Shakhtar Donetsk), Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoan), Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona), Willian (Chelsea), Douglas Costa (Juventus).
FORWARDS: Neymar (PSG), Taison (Shakhtar Donetsk), Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool)
![Philippe Coutinho [11], Neymar [10] and Gabriel Jesus [9]](https://www.sports24ghana.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Philippe-Coutinho-11-Neymar-10-and-Gabriel-Jesus-9.jpg)
Why they’ll lose games: Tite has been tinkering a bit. That isn’t inherently bad. But it is a bit strange, given how consistently excellent his team was throughout qualifying. And there have been a few unfortunate bumps in the road in recent months. Dani Alves, Brazil’s starting right back, will miss the World Cup due to injury. Neymar’s fractured metatarsal should be fully healed come mid-June, but there’s a doomsday scenario where re-injury turns Brazil’s 2018 campaign into 2014 all over again.
How they’ll play: Few teams have ever married attacking flair with defensive solidity like the Brazilians do. Casemiro will sit in front of the back four and behind two more attack-minded central midfielders. His presence gives protection and security at the back, especially in transition. It also gives the front five, and even the ever-eager fullbacks, freedom to do their thing going forward.
Projected lineup [4-1-4-1]: Alisson; Fagner, Marquinhos, Joao Miranda, Marcelo; Casemiro; Willian, Paulinho, Philippe Coutinho, Neymar; Gabriel Jesus.
With Alves out, either Fagner or Danilo could start at right back. At center back, Thiago Silva started in two March friendlies, but the spot was Marquinhos’ throughout qualifying. In midfield, Renato Augusto was also a fixture throughout 2016 and 2017, with either Coutinho or Willian on the right. But Coutinho could play central, with Willian wide right, against inferior group foes.
Rooting Guide
What makes them unique: Since Tite took over, 16 different players have worn the captain’s armband for Brazil. The rotation policy began as a clever ploy to avoid stripping Neymar – who had received criticism in the role – of the captaincy. Now it’s a unique, symbolic way of fostering shared responsibility throughout the squad.
Why to root for them: Because there was so much heartache in 2014. Way, way too much for many of those players to bear responsibility for. To see them undo all of it on July 15 in Moscow would be special. Oh, and they’ll entertain you in the process.
Why to root against them: Because you’ll be accused of glory hunting, and rightly so.
Source: Henry Bushnell|| Yahoo
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