The qualifying round and the championship match, formally known as the World Cup Finals, are the two stages of the FIFA World Cup competition. The teams that advance to the Finals are chosen during the qualification round, which now spans the three years before the Finals.
In the Finals’ current structure, 32 teams battle it out for the championship over the course of around a month at locations in the host nation or nations. The World Cup Finals, currently known as the FIFA World Cup, is the most watched athletic event worldwide, with billions of viewers and some of the most prestigious live Brazil World Cup odds.
The Brazilian National Team Overview
Brazil is the most successful national team in World Cup history, having won five championships and placed second, third and fourth twice. Along with Argentina, Spain and Germany, Brazil is one of the nations to have won the FIFA World Cup outside of their own continent.
Brazil is the only national team to have participated in every FIFA World Cup without missing any games or going through a playoff process. With a record of 73 triumphs in 109 games played, a goal difference of 124, 237 points and just 18 defeats, Brazil also has the greatest overall World Cup performance in both proportional and absolute terms.
Argentina has always been Brazil’s biggest foe. In the FIFA World Cup history, the two nations have faced off against one another four times. Brazil and Sweden played each other the most in the finals, with Brazil winning five games and drawing two.
Three other historical adversaries are the Netherlands, which has defeated Brazil twice in five encounters and won the third-place game in Brazil in 2014. France, which has eliminated Brazil three times, and Italy, which has lost two World Cup finals to Brazil and eliminated the Brazilians in two tournaments.
Cafu, a record-holder for Brazil in the World Cup, is the only player to have participated in the 1994, 1998 and 2002 World Cup finals. Following are the players with the most World Cup appearances:
- Cafu: 20
- Ronaldo: 19
- Cláudio Taffarel: 18
- Dunga: 18
- Roberto Carlos: 17
- Lúcio: 17
- Jairzinho: 16
- Gilberto Silva: 16
- Nílton Santos: 15
- Didi: 15
- Rivellino: 15
- Bebeto: 15
Seven players in total share the record of four appearances. Only one player, goalkeeper Emerson Leao, has participated in four non-consecutive tournaments. The other six players who all played in consecutive tournaments are
- Cafu
- Castilho
- Djalma Santos
- Nílton Santos
- Pelé
- Ronaldo
The Current Brazilian Squad
Brazil being the bookmakers’ pre-tournament favourite has become almost customary at this stage, but this time around, there’s a strong sense that the prediction is justified. Even though Tite’s team lost to Argentina in Copa America last year, you’d be crazy not to think they have a good chance of winning in Qatar, given how strong their team is right now.
On Friday, the last Brazil team to be selected before the World Cup itself was presented, and among the selections were players of the highest calibre. In fact, there were so many elite athletes that many high achievers, well known to Premier League spectators, weren’t called up for international duty.
These are the players that Tite chose to start along with their positions:
Goalkeepers:
- Alisson Becker
- Ederson
- Weverton
Defenders:
- Danilo
- Alex Sandro
- Gleison Bremer
- Alex Telles
- Thiago Silva
- Eder Militao
- Marquinhos
- Roger Ibanez
Midfielders:
- Casemiro
- Fred
- Fabinho
- Lucas Paqueta
- Bruno Guimares
- Everton Ribeiro
Forwards:
- Neymar
- Richarlison
- Roberto Firmino
- Vinicius Junior
- Rodrygo
- Antony
- Raphinha
- Matheus Cunha
- Pedro
Given Brazil’s depth, you may have noticed some outstanding players missing from the starting lineup, including Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, and Gabriel Magalhaes. Dani Alves, Arthur Melo and Philippe Coutinho were a few more well-known players who were left off the roster.
Even while it’s not a guarantee that these players won’t make the World Cup roster, Tite’s ability to toy around with his alternatives so much is a sign of his strength. In addition, if nothing else, then it most definitely demonstrates why Brazil is the overwhelming favourite to win the tournament in Qatar.
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With five different World Cup wins, Brazil is the most successful team in the competition’s history, although Selecao (Brazil’s nickname) hasn’t won the prized title since 2002. There were quarterfinal exits in 2006, 2010, and 2018, while in 2014, after a forgettable campaign, they had to settle for fourth place.
Neymar, Vinicius Junior and other players must now break Selecao’s trophy drought and return the title. However, before they face tougher obstacles in the final rounds, they must first get past Cameroon, Switzerland and Serbia.
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