Will the Brazil World Cup 2022 roster be sufficient to guarantee the Selecao’s first victory in 20 years?
The big news in the Brazil World Cup 2022 squad announcement is that Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino was left off.
Since a friendly matchup with the Czech Republic in March 2019, Brazil has not faced a European opponent. Before the 1954 World Cup, they last went this long without running into an opponent from Europe.
Nearly every press conference has been questioned about the anomaly, which for a while served to downplay the team’s record-breaking qualifying performance. The match against Argentina, which was postponed due to COVID-19 antics, was ultimately cancelled. The Selecao scored 40 goals while giving up just five.
But given the current frenzy around Brazil, the atmosphere has significantly changed. In essence, Europe loses because of the strange fixture list. They are unaware of what is awaiting them.
Brazil resembled a pragmatic team that relied excessively on Neymar’s eight-goal virtuosity and lacked their usual flare and charisma throughout the most of the journey to the Qatar World Cup 2022. That changed in the middle of 2021 with the emergence of players known as “perninhas rapidas,” as manager Tite puts it (fast little legs). Raphinha, Antony, Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo, and Gabriel Martinelli have given the Selecao a slick new dynamic, making it a team that, perhaps for the first time since 2006, supporters genuinely believe can win the World Cup.
The fanfare appears more than justified when combined with a backline consisting of Alisson (with Ederson serving as a luxury reserve), Thiago Silva, Brazil World Cup 2022 squad and Marquinhos that has been virtually invincible over the past four years.
This year, Brazil is far more prepared. Midway through the qualifying round in June 2016, Tite took over a team that was on the verge of not qualifying for Russia 2018, and they later suffered due to injuries to Neymar, Dani Alves, and Renato Augusto. Things have changed since then. The five-time world winners have even begun to resemble Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City thanks to their increased tactical flexibility, with the full-backs sliding into central midfield when they hold the ball.
Brazil will be hoping to take advantage of the familiarity offered by a good glug of the group competing in the Premier League together to win a first World Cup since 2002. Otherwise, they would have to wait at least 24 years between trophy lifts, matching their longest-ever dry spell (1970 to 1994), which is unthinkable.
Brazil’s final 26-man World Cup team for 2022
- GK: Alisson Becker (Liverpool)
- GK: Ederson (Manchester City)
- GK: Weverton (Palmeiras)
- DF: Dani Alves (UNAM)
- DF: Thiago Silva (Chelsea)
- DF: Marquinhos (PSG)
- DF: Danilo (Juventus)
- DF: Alex Telles (Sevilla)
- DF: Alex Sandro (Juventus)
- DF: Eder Militao (Real Madrid)
- DF: Bremer (Juventus)
- MF: Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle)
- MF: Casemiro (Manchester United)
- MF: Lucas Paqueta (Lyon)
- MF: Fabinho (Liverpool)
- MF: Fred (Manchester United)
- MF: Everton Ribeiro (Flamengo)
- FW: Neymar (PSG)
- FW: Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal)
- FW: Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)
- FW: Antony (Manchester United)
- FW: Richarlison (Tottenham)
- FW: Raphinha (Barcelona)
- FW: Rodrygo (Real Madrid)
- FW: Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal)
- FW: Pedro (Flamengo)
BRAZIL WORLD CUP TOP SCORERS
Here are Brazil’s World Cup top scorers so far:
3 goals – Richarlison
1 goal – Casemiro, Neymar, Lucas Paqueta, Vinicius Junior
BRAZIL YELLOW CARDS AND SUSPENSIONS
Here are Brazil’s World Cup yellow cards and suspensions:
1 yellow card – Fred, Eder Militao
BRAZIL MANAGER
Who is Brazil’s manager for the 2022 World Cup?
Tite is a charismatic man who occasionally strikes people as a priest because of the way he speaks and dresses. He has already made it known that he will step down from his position after the World Cup. After the 7-1 Gotterdammerung in 2014 and their group-stage exit from the Copa America two years later, he has changed the team. It will be challenging to replace him.
BRAZIL’S STAR PLAYER
Who is the finest player for Brazil?
Neymar needs two more goals to tie Pele’s record for most goals scored in Brazil history. The PSG superstar has already made a suggestion that this might be his final World Cup, as if that weren’t enough incentive. The No. 10 must lead his squad and put aside the comedy theatrics now that he is 30 years old, more mature, and surrounded by a superb supporting cast.
How many athletes will Brazil bring to the World Cup in 2022?
As a special measure brought in due to the COVID-19 pandemic, national managers were allowed to bring 26 players to last summer’s European Championship for the first time at a major tournament, while last year’s Copa America allowed squads of 28 players.
As opposed to the customary 23-man teams, 26-player squads will now be used at the World Cup in Qatar.
