World Cup 2022 – Squad Preview: Brazil
Brazil have been drawn in Group G alongside Switzerland, Cameroon and Serbia Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Five times World Cup winners Brazil take a star studded 26-man squad to Qatar with high expectations that they will bridge a 20- year gap since they last won the Jules Rimet Cup back in 2002.
They are the bookies favourite to lift the Cup when the final is played at the Lusail Iconic Stadium on December 18.
Their squad is a veritable who’s who of elite footballers in the world, with names such a Neymar, Vinicius Jr and Casemerio household names across all continents.
Adenor Leonardo Bachhi, otherwise known as Tite, manages the squad and he has had a highly successful qualification phase during which Brazil topped their group with 34 points out of a maximum of 36, a whopping 11 points ahead of second placed Argentina.
There is a host of well-known names also who did not make the final cut, either due to injury or poor form, and the likes of Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Phillipe Coutinho (Aston Villa) and Luis Enrique (Real Betis) will not be on the plane when they depart for Qatar.
Of those that are travelling Alisson (Liverpool) is nailed on to start as first choice keeper with Thiago Silva (Chelsea) and Marquinhos (Paris Saint Germain) the most likely centre back pairing.
39- year- old veteran Dani Alves (Pumas UNAM, Mexico) will be one of the oldest players at the tournament but his role is likely to be primarily that of back up to first choice right back Danilo (Juventus).
Manchester Utd’s Casemiro will be Tite’s favourite to anchor the midfield area while up front the goals are likely to provided by Neymar (Paris Saint Germain) and Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Jr.
Brazil have been drawn in Group G alongside Switzerland, Cameroon and Serbia and they kick off their tournament against the latter on Thursday November 24th at the Al Janoub Stadium.
The full squad is
Goalkeepers:
Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Manchester City), Weverton (Palmeiras)
Defenders:
Dani Alves (Pumas), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Thiago Silva (Chelsea), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Danilo (Juventus), Alex Sandro (Juventus), Alex Telles (Sevilla), Bremen (Juventus)
Midfielders:
Casemiro (Manchester United), Fred (Manchester United), Fabinho (Liverpool), Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle), Lucas Paqueta (West Ham), Everton Ribeiro (Flamengo)
Forwards:
Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain), Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid), Richarlison (Tottenham), Raphinha (Barcelona), Antony (Manchester United), Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Pedro (Flamengo), Rodrygo (Real Madrid)
