BRAZIL 2014 FIFA WORLD CUP SPECIAL
A
BRAZIL, CROATIA,MEXICO,CAMEROUN
nerve as talent – they
are the bookies'
favourites to win the
tournament, yet
Spain, Germany and
Argentina all
seemingly boast
stronger squads.
Pressure to perform
may turn home
advantage into the
exact opposite,
although they could
hardly have asked for
a kinder group draw.
H I G H P O I N T:
Winners in 1958,
1962, 1970, 1994 and
2002, but it is the 1970
triumph that inspires
the most impassioned
tributes. Playing in front of passionate
home crowd, coach Scolari has the
required major tournament know-how,
the players are talented and 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.
EYE ON THE CROWN: Brazil captain
Thiago Silva hopes to lead the Selecao to glory.
BRAZIL
Hosting to win 6th World Cup title?
BRIEFLY: It could have seemed
somewhat foolhardy tipping Brazil, a
year ago, as one of the favourites to win
the World Cup with form and prospects,
despite the fact that they are the only
team to win the trophy five times and are
playing at home. In 2010, coach Carlos
Dunga stepped down to be replaced by
Mano Menezes, but the former
Corinthians manager failed to get his
team playing the pressing, possession
football he desired. His side were
knocked out of the Copa America at the
quarter-final stage by Paraguay in 2011
and a year later his under-23 squad
once again failed to win the Olympic
gold medal with a defeat to Mexico in
the Wembley final.
But a year on, the fans' wishes were
answered when Luiz Felipe Scolari
replaced Menezes and within months,
Brazil were back playing something
resembling the scintillating passing and
movement they are known for. Felipao's
men have surprised even their biggest
critics with a series of fine displays at
the Confederations Cup in June. In the
early rounds, they managed to score
nine goals in three games but they
really showed their mettle in the semis,
surviving against Uruguay before
STAR
NEYMAR: It's a simple script!
MAN Brazil's hopes rest on the narrow
shoulders of Neymar, the 21year-old Barcelona forward
whose talent and fame spread worldwide in
2013. Brazilian fans have known Neymar
as something special since 2011, when he
led Santos to their first Copa Libertadores
win since 1963, when a young man called
Pele wore the famous white shirt. But the
rest of the world want to see him.
12 COMPLETE FOOTBALL
KEY
MAN
comprehensively blowing away the
world champions Spain in an
unforgettable final at the Maracana.
Felipao's Brazil has come on leaps and
bounds over the last 12 months and is
now a firm favourite to lift a sixth title this
July.
LOW POINT: The sad spectacle of an
unwell Ronaldo and his team being
rolled over 3-0 by France in the 1998
final. Not a vintage Brazil side for the
Mundial, but Neymar looks the most
probable heir to the World Cup greats.
The present Brazilian squad is weak in
goal, defensively doubtful, though
effective in midfield, but overly reliant on
MISSION: Brazil have appeared in
every World Cup finals – the only nation
to do so – and won it a
record five times (1958,
COACH
1962, 1970, 1994,
LUIZ FELIPE SCOLARI certainly knows the
2002). Brazil's 2014 ropes having led Brazil to its fifth title in 2002.
squad will be shooting But the no-nonsense gaffer was hired not just
for their nation's sixth for his winning record but for also his reputation
World Cup title on home as a coach who can whip his charges into
soil.
STRONGEST LINE-UP
PREPARATION
: They have won
their last seven
games(at the time
of this report), with
their only defeats in
2013 coming
against England
and Switzerland.
For the Selecao,
winning the World
Cup at home is as
much a trial of
OSCAR DOS SANTOS
EMBOABA: Neymar is the
undisputed star of the Selecao,
but Chelsea playmaker Oscar has what it
takes to win best performer in supporting.
He has the talent to do what Maradona did
for Argentina in 1986: inspire his lessgifted team-mates to conquer all. But will
he buckle under the weight of the Brazilian
expectation?
Julio Cesar
Alves
Luiz
Fernandinho
Silva
Paulinho
Marcelo
Hulk
Neymar
Oscar
Fred
FORMATION: 4-3-3
KEY
MAN
THIAGO SILVA: Silva is
arguably irreplaceable. He is a
centre-half blessed with spring
and acceleration, as well as that
most valuable attribute of all for a
defender: an innate sense of anticipation.
According to his former boss Carlo
Ancelotti, Silva is the best defender in the
world.
"He just sees the game 10 seconds
before everyone else," said the former