Brazil, are they clear favourites for the World Cup?

The Fifa World Cup is very nearly upon us so we asked our friends in the excellent website The League of Ireland Blog if they could share with us their opinions on some of the leading contenders in the upcoming World Cup.

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Brazil

By Brendan Sheils

The World Cup 2014 coverage starts here with a preview for tournament hosts and favourites Brazil. The Samba boys were automatically drawn as first seeds in Group A due to holding the competition and have been drawn against Croatia, Cameroon and Mexico

Head Coach Felipe Scolari has possibly named the most controversial squad of players competing in South America. Atletico Madrid have kept the most clean sheets in Europe this season but he has chosen to ignore two vital members of the Atletico defence, Miranda and left back Felipe Luis. This decision has confused and angered many Brazilians, especially the one to include relatively unknown Napoli centre back Henrique ahead of Miranda. Henrique was known to have been a key player for Scolari at Palmeiras in 2012. “He’s an average to below average player. He’s not good enough for Brazil.” said 1970 World Cup legend Tostao.

Philippe Coutinho is another who would feel was unlucky not to make the 23 but other than that Scolari has a very strong squad to pick from when it comes to the first game against Croatia in Sao Paulo on June 12. One that includes global superstars such as Neymar, Dani Alves, Thiago Silva and Hulk. One thing that does worry me is that the majority of this group haven’t experienced a World Cup. While it’s nothing new for the Seleção to enter a World Cup with high expectations, this time things are different because Brazil are at home and the last time that was the case, in 1950, they came up short.

Brazil hold the record for the most World Cup Final victories (5 in total) in 1958,1962,1970,1994 and 2002 and will be aiming to make it a sixth on home soil this summer. Some bookies have made them as short as 3/1 to win the tournament outright and since they haven’t managed to progress to the last 4 in each of the last 2 tournaments they will be more hungry than ever for success in font of their adoring fans. A lot of pressure will certainly be put on Neymar and his team mates to perform and bring home the trophy to South America, where the local fans believe it belongs.

Brazil have a couple of world class players in their side but they will look to the magic of Neymar, Oscar and the powerful over-lapping runs of Dani Alves for some inspiration to win. Neymar has to power to turn any game on its head and this was seen in the Confederations Cup last summer. With Oscar being neat and skilful in the attacking midfield position he could unlock any defence and Dani Alves is certainly one who will cause the opposition trouble with his dangerous crosses and lung-bursting sprints down the right flank. All of these players will be looking to pick out lone front man Fred, who will be hoping to feed of quality balls inside the box to maximise his finishing.

A player I have picked to look out for in Brazil this summer is Luiz Gustavo of Wolfsburg. The team’s most understated player, calmly breaking up opposing attacks and short passing his way out of trouble, Scolari seems to pick him for every 11 and is constantly keeping the likes of premier league stars Fernandinho and Willian out of the side. He could be one of the surprise players of the tournament and a new national hero if Brazil repeats the heroics of the Confederations cup.

I think the Seleção had a lucky group-stage draw. Both Croatia and Mexico arrived via the playoffs and Cameroon are not as threatening as in previous years with the likes of Samuel Eto’o not getting any younger and Alex Song being frozen out at Barcelona. Croatia will play Brazil without Mario Mandzukic, for example, while Mexico were almost edged out by Panama in qualifying. So I think Brazil are in shape to top the group convincingly with three wins from three and with the home fans behind them they may keep a clean sheet in all three, which will give the players confidence ahead of the knockout stages.

Personally, I feel Brazil have enough in their locker this year to win yet another world cup, with the explosiveness and power down the flank thanks to Hulk and Alves, the trickery of Neymar and intelligence of Oscar. It should be enough to compensate for the lack of quality in the forward line. With the home fans behind them anything can happen, but will the pressure become all too much? We will see in just under two weeks.