Brazil - a guide to the World Cup hosts
The burden of expectation weighs heavily on Brazil at any World Cup but that will be magnified when the five-time champions play hosts to the tournament. Chris Harvey looks at their chances...
Tuesday 10 June 2014 14:43, UK
The five-time world champions qualified for the 2014 finals automatically as hosts and are under pressure to again become the best team on the planet in front of an expectant nation.
Brazil have experienced disappointing quarter-final exits at the last two World Cups and remarkably found themselves outside of the top 20 in FIFA's world rankings only last year.
But regardless of that slump, since his return as manager in November 2012, Luiz Felipe Scolari has added new confidence.The man who was in charge of Brazil for their success in 2002 has made some ruthless selection decisions and that has added self-belief.
Last June's 3-0 hammering of Spain in the final of the Confederations Cup is a reflection of Brazil's growing momentum while it also sent them rocketing back up the rankings.
Brazil’s Group A fixtures
Thursday June 12: Brazil vs Croatia – Sao Paulo (21.00)
Tuesday June 17: Brazil vs Mexico – Fortaleza (20.00)
Monday June 23: Brazil vs Cameroon – Brasilia (21.00)
Coach: Luiz Felipe Scolari
Reappointed in November last year, 2002 World Cup-winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has recovered from a poor start to his second spell in charge to shape Brazil into a side he is "100% sure…will be the champion" this summer. The 65-year-old previously led Portugal to the Euro 2004 final, 2006 World Cup semi-finals and last eight at Euro 2008.
Star man: Neymar
Neymar is pivotal to Brazil’s chances of success on home soil. Full of energy and deft touches, and able to dribble at speed, he is the player most capable of changing a game for Scolari's side. The 21-year-old Barcelona star appears unfazed by the public expectation and on his day can be a lethal weapon against any defence. Neymar began his footballing career at Santos in 2009, helping his side to the Copa Libertadores and made his full international debut in a friendly against USA when only 18. Since then he has helped the national team to the final at the 2012 Olympic Games in London and won the Confederations Cup with Brazil a year later, being named tournament MVP. If he can repeat the feat this summer his name will be firmly placed alongside Brazilian legends Pele and Ronaldo.
Tournament best: Winners 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002
Squad
Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Toronto FC), Jefferson (Botafogo), Victor (Atletico Mineiro).
Defenders: David Luiz (Chelsea), Dante (Bayern Munich), Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-Germain), Henrique (Napoli), Maicon (Roma), Dani Alves (Barcelona), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Maxwell (Paris Saint-Germain).
Midfielders: Luiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg), Paulinho (Tottenham), Fernandinho (Manchester City), Ramires (Chelsea), Oscar (Chelsea), Willian (Chelsea), Hernanes (Inter Milan).
Strikers: Hulk (Zenit St. Petersburg), Bernard (Shakhtar Donetsk), Neymar (Barcelona), Jo (Atletico Mineiro), Fred (Fluminense).
British based players: Julio Cesar (QPR), David Luiz (Chelsea), Lucas Leiva (Liverpool), Oscar (Chelsea), Ramires (Chelsea), Paulinho (Tottenham Hotspur) and Willian (Chelsea).
As hosts and five-time World Cup winners, Brazil are naturally considered favourites to lift the trophy. Barcelona’s Neymar will carry much of the burden of expectation as the 14/1 joint third favourite to be the tournament’s top scorer, having netted 30 times 47 international appearances. Luiz Felipe Scolari’s men are big favourites to win Group A at 2/9 and 9/1 not to qualifying for the knockout stages.
