Brazil World Cup Preview: Neymar & Co. Have One Clear Aim
Its World Cup title drought at 20 years, Brazil is not holding back on the firepower as FIFA’s top-ranked side gears up for a run at the trophy it craves.
Ranked first in the FIFA world ranking and with no clear in-form European favorite, all of the stars seem to be lining up for Brazil in Qatar. Now is the time for the Seleção to add a sixth title to their all-time World Cup trophy count. Brazil last won the trophy in 2002, and if it doesn’t win in Qatar, the country will match its longest World Cup drought by the time the 2026 World Cup begins.
Brazil will head into the World Cup with only one loss over the last two years—the 2021 Copa América final vs. Argentina. The side went undefeated in 17 South American World Cup qualifiers, as Neymar led the team with eight goals followed by Richarlison with six. Brazil’s last World Cup ended poorly after a quarterfinal exit at the hands of Belgium, although it has since claimed the 2019 Copa América and an Olympic gold medal in Tokyo.
Tite has been manager of Brazil for more years (six) than he has accumulated losses (five), winning 57 of his 76 matches in charge for an incredible 75% win rate. However, the coach will leave the team following the World Cup, where he will have some of the country’s best attacking weapons in a decade at his disposal in Neymar, Richarlison, Vinícius Júnior and Gabriel Jesus among many others.
Group G Schedule (all times Eastern)
- Serbia, Nov. 24, 2 p.m.
- Switzerland, Nov. 28, 11 a.m.
- Cameroon, Dec. 2, 2 p.m.
Coach
Tite, hired in June 2016
Seokyong Lee/Penta Press/Imago Images
Players to Watch
Neymar, forward
The PSG star is often at the center of one controversy or another, but his record for Brazil has always been impeccable. The 30-year-old forward comes into the World Cup with six career goals in the competition, but he can truly make his mark on the goalscoring charts in Qatar with three more goals, which will see him pass Pelé (77 goals) as Brazil’s all-time leading men’s goalscorer. In his last nine games for Brazil, Neymar has recorded seven goals and six assists, while he has already eclipsed a double-digit goal count for PSG this season. But if he wants to be considered as one of the all-time greats, a World Cup trophy would go a long way.
Vinícius Júnior, winger
The 2021-22 season was just the breakthrough that the world had been waiting for from Vini. In his fourth year with Real Madrid, the 22-year-old helped lead the club to a La Liga title with 17 goals and 10 assists while adding the winning goal in the Champions League final against Liverpool. Vini has still scored only one goal for Brazil in 16 appearances, a record that will have to improve upon if he hopes to keep his spot in a deep Brazilian attack teeming with competition. Still, he is considered one of the best wingers in the game for a reason (his knack for goal, his vision and speed are all exceptional), and Qatar is his chance to show it by claiming another trophy in what has already been a year that most players could only dream of.
Thiago Silva, center back
Being the captain of the Brazilian national team will put anyone on a pedestal, and Thiago Silva has led by example and experience. It’s remarkable for anyone at 38 years old to be in a Brazilian side known for its turnover due to an abundance of talent (let alone Dani Alves, making it at 39!), but Thiago Silva is still a starter and key figure in central defense. At Chelsea, when most counted him out due to his age, he has only excelled over the last two-plus seasons. The World Cup would appear to be his last hurrah, but it would be foolish to rule him out—although a World Cup trophy could be the ride into the sunset he deserves.
Sebastian Frej/Imago Images
Breakout Candidate
Lucas Paquetá, midfielder
The hype surrounding the stars in Brazil’s attack will overshadow the midfielder heading into Qatar, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Paquetá emerge as one of the breakout stars of the tournament. The West Ham summer signing, who arrived in a deal that could reportedly reach £50 million, recorded 21 goals and 14 assists for Lyon over the past two seasons and has played an integral role for Brazil over the last year. His versatility can land him anywhere in midfield, but he is best in an attacking role where his uncanny distribution makes other attacking talent shine.
Watch soccer live with fuboTV: Start a free trial today!
World Cup History
- 21 appearances
- Last appearance: 2018 (Quarterfinals)
- Best finish: Winner in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002
Outlook and Expectations
The expectation for Brazil is almost always to win the World Cup, which is both a reflection of its rich soccer history and a massive source of pressure before stepping onto the pitch. In Qatar, Brazil enters as the bettor’s favorite to take home the trophy, and it will be expected to do so in style with so much depth in attack that it could fill multiple starting lineups (and afford to omit the likes of Liverpool veteran Roberto Firmino).
Switzerland’s organization, along with its recent history of taking down France at Euro 2020 and topping a qualifying group with Italy, should not be overlooked. Serbia’s attack could also provide problems for Brazil’s aging defense that has its uncertainties at the fullback positions. Meanwhile, Brazil hasn’t been dealt the easiest path to victory, with a round-of-16 matchup likely coming against Portugal or Uruguay while a European powerhouse in Belgium, Spain or Germany could be waiting in the quarterfinals. Still, this is Brazil’s tournament to win—unless, of course, the pressure becomes too much.
World Cup Squad
GOALKEEPERS: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Manchester City), Weverton (Palmeiras)
DEFENDERS: Dani Alves (Pumas), Bremer (Juventus), Danilo (Juventus), Marquinhos (PSG), Éder Militão (Real Madrid), Alex Sandro (Juventus), Thiago Silva (Chelsea), Alex Telles (Sevilla)
MIDFIELDERS: Casemiro (Manchester United), Fabinho (Liverpool), Fred (Manchester United), Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle), Lucas Paquetá (West Ham), Éverton Ribeiro (Flamengo)
FORWARDS: Antony (Manchester United), Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Neymar (PSG), Pedro (Flamengo), Raphinha (Barcelona), Richarlison (Tottenham), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid)
More World Cup Coverage: