BRAZIL (seeded)
How do they play?
Style & formation:
The flicks and tricks remain second nature, but this Brazil side is
also resilient and well organised, moulded by the pragmatism of 2002
World Cup winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.
They press the opposition high up the pitch, while
midfielder Luiz Gustavo acts as an auxiliary third centre-back -
allowing the full-backs and the likes of centre-back David Luiz to
venture forward.
Brazil usually adopt a 4-2-3-1 formation and are not
afraid to be direct, often seeking out the flamboyant Neymar on the left
with long balls from the back.
Strengths:
Take your pick. Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has the required major
tournament know-how, the players are talented and well-drilled, a
passionate home crowd will surely inspire the team again, as they did
at the Confederations Cup
in the summer, and even the iconic yellow jerseys can intimidate the opposition.
Weaknesses:
There aren't many, but the paucity of centre-forward options is a
potential concern. First-choice Fred was injured earlier in the season
and Diego Costa opted to represent Spain, so former Manchester City and
Everton striker Jo could play a part.
Key player
Believe the hype;
Neymar
is pivotal to Brazil. Full of energy and deft touches, and able to
dribble at incredible speed, he is the player most capable of changing a
game for Luiz Felipe Scolari's side.
The 22-year-old World Cup poster boy -
who joined Barcelona last summer
for £48.6m - appears unfazed by the public expectation, scoring 13 times in his last 16 caps.
Neymar has been in prolific form for Brazil
One to watch
Luiz Felipe Scolari says that 21-year-old
Bernard
"has joy in his legs". Direct, quick, and a bundle of energy, the
5ft 5in winger made his full debut for Brazil in September and scored
his first goal against Honduras in November.
Once considered too small for professional football, Shakhtar Donetsk paid £21.5m for him last summer.
The boss
Reappointed in November 2012, 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 led Portugal to the Euro 2004 final,
2006 World Cup semi-finals and last eight at Euro 2008 between his
spells as Brazil boss.
How they qualified
As hosts.
World Cup record
Brazil are the only nation to have played at every World Cup, winning the competition a record five times, latterly in 2002.
Fifa ranking:
4 (correct to 6 June)
Provisional squad
Possible starting XI
Goalkeepers:
Julio Cesar (Toronto FC, on loan from QPR), Jefferson (Botafogo), Victor (Atletico Mineiro).
Defenders:
Marcelo (Real Madrid), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Maicon (AS Roma),
Maxwell, Thiago Silva (both Paris St-Germain), David Luiz (Chelsea),
Dante (Bayern Munich), Henrique (Napoli).
Midfielders:
Paulinho (Tottenham Hotspur), Ramires, Willian, Oscar (all Chelsea),
Hernanes (Inter Milan), Luiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg), Fernandinho
(Manchester City).
Forwards:
Bernard (Shakhtar Donetsk), Neymar (Barcelona), Fred (Fluminense), Jo (Atletico Mineiro), Hulk (Zenit St Petersburg).
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