2022 FIFA World Cup Team Previews: Brazil
The 2022 FIFA World Cup is less than a month away from kicking off in Qatar. Over the next 32 days, I will be previewing each team that will be taking part in the world’s most-watched event. Check out all of the team previews that have been done so far. Up next is Brazil.
The favorite to win the 2022 World Cup is Brazil, and rightfully so. This is one of the deepest Brazil squads we have seen since their three straight World Cup final appearances from 1994 to 2002. With an extremely exciting attack, all of Brazil’s matches will be must-watch television.
Brazil has lost just one match since the start of 2020 and that came against Argentina in the 2021 Copa America final. Since that loss, “A Seleção” have gone 15 matches unbeaten and will ride that momentum into the 2022 World Cup as the No. 1 ranked team in the FIFA men’s rankings.
World Cup Appearances
The 2022 World Cup will be the 22nd ever World Cup and the only team to have played in every single one is Brazil. When I think of the World Cup, the first team that comes to mind is Brazil because there is no World Cup without Brazil being involved.
Best Finish at a World Cup
Brazil is the most successful team in World Cup history. “A Seleção” has won a record five tournament titles.
The first three titles came in a four-tournament span with Brazil being led by the GOAT, Pelé. Their first title came in 1958 against Sweden in which they won 5-2 thanks to a Pelé brace. Four years later, Brazil beat Czechoslovakia 3-1 to win the 1958 World Cup. In Pelé’s last World Cup in 1970, “A Seleção” beat Italy 4-1 to lift their third title and retire the Jules Rimet Trophy.
It was not until 1994 that Brazil reached the peak of world football by once again beating Italy in the final, this time on penalties after a 0-0 draw. Their most recent World Cup title came in 2002 against Germany. That year, Brazil beat the Germans 2-0 with both goals being scored by the “real” Ronaldo.
Key players
There is no true area of weakness for Brazil, but let’s start with the attack.
At the 2022 World Cup, “A Seleção” is more than capable of having two completely different attacks that will not skip a beat. The attack will be led by Neymar who is two goals away from tying Pelé for the most goals in Brazilian history. He currently has 75 goals and three goals at the 2022 World Cup will see him become the greatest goalscorer Brazil has ever seen.
Alongside him could be any of Raphinha, Richarlison, Vinícius Júnior or Gabriel Jesus. While Raphinha has struggled a bit since moving from Leeds to Barcelona, he is still a very dangerous forward that can cause issues for any defender. Richarlison has also not been great for his club side and has yet to score a league goal for Tottenham. Meanwhile, Vinícius Júnior has become one of the world’s best at Real Madrid and could be the young player of the tournament. And lest we forget Jesus is in the form of his life at Arsenal with five goals and six assists.
The midfield does not lose any oomph either, boasting the likes of Casemiro, Fabinho, and Fred. The move to Manchester United has not panned out very well for Casemiro, but he is still the same dangerous midfielder that starred for Real Madrid.
The defense and team will be led by Thiago Silva. The captain for “A Seleção” is the heart of this back line. For Chelsea, he has been playing very well despite a three-match losing streak. A somewhat surprising inclusion to the squad is Dani Alves. He was once one of the best outside backs in the world, but at 39 years old he is past his prime. There is also no drop-off at all in the goalkeeping department with two players that could be starters for virtually every other nation. Alisson and Ederson are the best goalkeepers in the Premier League and two of the top in the world.
Manager
The manager on the hot seat is Tite. While “A Seleção” qualified for a second World Cup under Tite, if Brazil does not win the 2022 World Cup then this could be the last we see of him in charge. Since he became the manager of Brazil in 2016, “A Seleção” has lost just five of 76 matches.
Biggest Group Game – vs. Serbia on Nov. 24
In their opening game, Brazil will have their toughest test against Serbia. This is a tougher match than most would suggest because of the questions around the aging defense for “A Seleção” and how they will deal with a very dangerous Serbian attack.
Prediction
Brazil is the No. 1 team in the world for a reason, and they will show this in Group G. “A Seleção” should have no issue sweeping Serbia, Switzerland, and Cameroon in the group stage to win the group. Winning Group G would see Brazil play the runner-up of Group H, which could be anyone.
No matter who Brazil draws in the Round of 16 they should get by relatively easily. I then think they beat Spain in the quarterfinals. However, for the second time in three World Cups, “A Seleção” will go out in the semifinals, this time against archrival Argentina. In a match that deserves to be the final, Brazil will fall and end their 2022 FIFA World Cup just short of their goal.
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