Country: Brazil
Fixtures
June 17: vs Switzerland (Rostov, 11.30 pm IST)
June 22: vs Costa Rica (Krestovsky, 5.30 pm IST)
June 27: vs Serbia (Otkrytie, 11.30 pm IST)
FIFA ranking: 2
Previous World Cup: Semifinals
Best finish: Winners (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)
Star players: Neymar (Paris Saint Germain forward), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool, forward), Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona, midfielder), Paulinho (Barcelona, midfielder).
Coach: Adenor Leonardo Bacchi (Tite)
OFFICAL:
— Brazil Football 🇧🇷 (@BrazilEdition) May 14, 2018
Brazil's 23 man World Cup squad. pic.twitter.com/MjoNy3ZcF6
The Little Canaries from Latin America are strong title contenders. They have a brilliant team, in fact too much brilliance in all departments. A forward line consisting Neymar, who scored a goal upon his return from injury against Croatia in a warm-up game in Anfield, England, Roberto Firmino, another scorer in that game against Croatia, and Gabriel Jesus is the envy of any team.
Barcelona pair Philippe Coutinho and Paulinho are the central figures in a midfield that also has Fred (Shakhtar Donetsk), Willian (Chelsea) and Casemiro (Real Madrid). Their defence too look solid with the presence of Thiago Silva (PSG), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Danilo (Manchester City) and Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid).
TITE LOWERS NEYMAR EXPECTATIONS
Brazil have that traditional weakness when it comes to goalkeepers and the joke goes around that no one in Brazil wants to become a custodian as their inner streak is to become goal poachers. But this time, they have two superb goalkeepers in Alisson (AS Roma) and Ederson (Manchester City) and both were in fine touch for their respective clubs.
A gratidão de @neymarjr! Recuperado depois de três meses, o craque fez questão de agradecer aos que o ajudaram a retornar aos gramados (e ainda marcar!) 🙏🇧🇷 #GigantesPorNatureza pic.twitter.com/JUmeWjokBc
— CBF Futebol (@CBF_Futebol) June 4, 2018
There is more to Brazil's engine room than those special talents wrapped in yellow. Under coach Tite (pronounced as Cheechee), Brazil, who were the first team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2018, have been playing some pragmatic football mixed with the exotic Latin flavour. He has brought in spirit to Brazilian football which has lost its soul under the torpor of Dunga and after that 7-1 defeat to Germany at home in 2014.
Make no mistake, this is not Brazil of 1982 or 1986 when Socrates, Careca, Falcao and Zico wowed the world but Brazil of 2018 under Tite who has more allegiance to Luiz Filipe Scolari than to the arte futebol of the 80s. But the swagger is back, certainly.
Esse craque, tetracampeão da Europa com o @realmadrid, brilhou também pelo Campeonato Espanhol e apresentou números impressionantes. Esse é @Casemiro! 🇧🇷 #GigantesPorNatureza pic.twitter.com/2o1VLgZZQk
— CBF Futebol (@CBF_Futebol) June 4, 2018
Achilles Heel of Brazil
There are not much chinks in this Brazil squad. If they play to their potential, opponents will have - as the Brazilians say - lenta tempus. But for that, they need to click as a team, members like Neymar, Casemiro, Coutinho and Jesus should conquer their minds and then the rivals in the grandest stage of them all in sports.
Prediction: Of course, Brazil are overwhelming favourites. But Costa Rica, Serbia and Switzerland are no mere pushovers. Taking these teams for granted will make progress tough for Brazil but as of now its looks a sail with the wind for them.